Method and device for initializing communication between a chatbot and a connected object

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for initializing communication between a chatbot and a connected object, said method being implemented by an initialization device and characterized in that it comprises: - a step of obtaining at least one first context datum comprising at least one identifier of a second connected object; - a step of evaluating said at least one first context datum based on at least one management rule associated with said chatbot; and when at least one rule of said chatbot is complied with - a step of putting said chatbot in communication with said second connected object.

Description

Method and device for initiating communication between a conversational agent and a connected object.

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The invention relates to the field of telecommunications and more particularly concerns digital services provided to a user by a conversational agent.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] We know the RCS operator service (in English "Rich Communication Suite") and its RBM component (in English Rich Business Messaging) which defines the possible interactions between a user and a conversational agent. Thanks to this service, a conversational agent is for example able to analyze a message coming from a user, in natural language and / or via predefined choices / selections, in order to provide an appropriate response (proposals, actions, etc.).

[0005] The establishment of communication between the user and the conversational agent is done at the user's initiative. It is not intended that a conversational agent be able to contact a user on its own initiative (i.e. without the prior receipt of a message from the user) in order to avoid abuses such as unsolicited messages (spam). Note that the RCS standard still allows a conversational agent, after receiving an initial message from the user, to send a maximum of 1 unsolicited message per 24 hours.

[0006] However, there are use cases for which it would be desirable for a conversational agent to be able to establish communication without prior solicitation. This is the case, for example, for communications to a user's connected terminals (bracelet, car, sensors, etc.), when the latter is in a particular context, conducive to interaction with a service. There is therefore a need for a technical solution allowing communication to be established between a conversational agent and a third party when no prior relationship between these two parties exists and a particular contextual situation occurs. Such a solution must also provide a response to abuse issues (spam) but also preserve the anonymity of the user (and / or the connected object belonging to him) vis-à-vis the service provider (conversational agent).

[0007] 3. Statement of the invention

[0008] The invention improves the state of the art and proposes for this purpose a method for initializing a communication between a conversational agent and a connected object, said method being implemented by an initialization device and characterized in that it comprises: a step of obtaining at least one first context data item comprising at least one identifier of a second connected object; a step of evaluating said at least one first context data item as a function of at least one management rule associated with a conversational agent;

[0009] and when at least one rule of said conversational agent is respected, a step of putting said conversational agent into communication with said second connected object.

[0010] Advantageously, this mode of implementation makes it possible to put a conversational agent and a connected object (second connected object within the meaning of the invention) into communication,

[0011] Concretely, the method holds and / or obtains in advance management rules associated with the conversational agent. These management rules make it possible, for example, to determine whether a connection (communication) between the conversational agent and a connected object must be established. The method then obtains an identifier associated with a second connected object and context data. The context data corresponds, for example, to context data of a first connected object.

[0012] Note that the identifier of the second connected object may be contained in the context data. This data is then evaluated to determine whether one of the management conditions / rules associated with the conversational agent is met. If so, the method ensures that communication between the conversational agent and the second connected object is carried out.

[0013] An identifier is a string of characters used to identify an object and / or user during communication. The identifier can be an email address, a MAC (Media Access Control) address, an IP address, a telephone number, a session number, etc.

[0014] Context data refers to all data collected and / or generated by a connected object. For example, context data can be generated from data collected by the connected object.

[0015] A management rule is understood to mean the set of business rules that enable the proper functioning of a connected object and / or the triggering of a connection (establishment of communication) between the connected object and a conversational agent. For example, conditions (location, speed, temperature, altitude, etc.) and / or thresholds to be respected.

[0016] A conversational agent is a computerized dialog machine capable of dialoguing with a user and / or a connected object. The conversational agent generates messages for the user / connected object and interprets the responses sent in return in order to meet the customer's requests / needs.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that the communication establishment step comprises at least one step of sending, to said conversational agent, a request to initialize a communication between said conversational agent and said second connected object, said request comprising said at least one identifier of said second connected object.

[0018] Advantageously, this implementation mode allows the method to issue a connection request (request to initialize a communication) to the conversational agent. This request contains at least the identifier of the second connected object, thus allowing the conversational agent to issue a request to initialize a communication to the second connected object. This embodiment allows initialization of the communication by the conversational agent.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that the communication establishment step comprises at least: a first step of establishing a first communication with said conversational agent; a second step of establishing a second communication with said second connected object; a step of joining said first and said second communication.

[0020] Advantageously, this mode of implementation allows the method to put the conversational agent and the second connected object into communication via an operation of joining two communications previously established by the method with respectively the conversational agent and the second connected object. Thanks to this embodiment, no information belonging to the second connected object is given to the conversational agent, thus guaranteeing the anonymity of the user (and / or of the connected object belonging to him) with respect to the service provider (conversational agent).

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said step of establishing communication is followed or preceded by a step of sending a notification to said second connected object.

[0022] Advantageously, this implementation method makes it possible, for example, to notify the second connected object of the receipt of a future request to initiate a communication from a conversational agent. Thus, a connected object that would not accept, for security reasons, a connection request from an unauthenticated / known third party can, for a predefined period of time, for example 10 seconds, listen and accept the request to initiate a communication from the conversational agent.

[0023] In addition, the notification sent to the second connected object may include an identifier of the conversational agent. Thus, when the second connected object receives a request to establish (initialize) a communication, i.e. a request sent by the conversational agent, the second connected object may retrieve the identifier of the conversational agent present in the notification in order to ensure that the connection request was indeed sent by the correct conversational agent. Specifically, the identifier of the conversational agent obtained from the notification and the identifier of the conversational agent obtained from the initialization request are compared in order to determine whether they are identical. This embodiment makes it possible to add additional security when establishing a connection.

[0024] Alternatively or cumulatively, the notification may include a secret (a sequence of characters known only to the conversational agent and the connected object) so that the connected object can authenticate the conversational agent via a secret testing step (the process verifies that the secret obtained in the initialization request is valid / known).

[0025] Alternatively or cumulatively, the notification may include data encrypted via a symmetric encryption key, the key being shared between the conversational agent and the connected object. Similarly, the connected object ensures the identity of the conversational agent via a test step of the decrypted data.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said at least one first context data item comprises at least one configuration data item of said conversational agent and in that the communication establishment step comprises a step of transmitting to said conversational agent said at least one configuration data item received.

[0027] This embodiment makes it possible to configure the conversational agent with configuration data belonging for example to the second connected object and / or to its user. For example, a configuration data can be a customer identifier such as a loyalty card identifier. Thus, the conversational agent can obtain information associated with the second connected object and / or to its user allowing it to adapt / contextualize the first messages sent to the second connected object.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said at least one first context data item comprises at least one context data item of a first connected object and in that said at least one context data item of said first connected object is obtained from said first connected object.

[0029] This embodiment makes it possible to trigger the communication of the conversational agent with the second connected object based on context data of a first connected object (data generated / processed / associated with the first connected object), for example, when the second connected object is determined, by the first connected object, to be in proximity to the first connected object.

[0030] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said at least one first context data item comprises at least one context data item of a first connected object and in that said at least one context data item of said first connected object is obtained from the network.

[0031] This embodiment makes it possible to trigger the communication of the conversational agent with the second connected object based on context data of a first connected object, for example, when the second connected object is determined by the first connected object to be in proximity to the first connected object. Furthermore, this embodiment makes it possible to centralize the context data within a server located in the network in order, for example, to establish statistics. This embodiment also makes it possible to carry out processing on the context data originating from the connected object, by means, for example, of a processing server located in the network, with a view to improving their relevance for triggering a communication (for example, improving the accuracy of satellite geolocation information).

[0032] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said first connected object corresponds to said second connected object.

[0033] Advantageously, this implementation mode makes it possible to trigger the connection between the conversational agent and a connected object based on the context data of the connected object to be contacted. When one of the conditions / management rules associated with the conversational agent is respected, then the method can trigger the communication of the conversational agent with the connected object.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that said at least one first context data item comprises at least one identifier of a conversational agent and in that the evaluation of said at least one first context data item is carried out as a function of at least one management rule associated with said at least one identifier of said conversational agent.

[0035] Advantageously, this implementation mode makes it possible to specify the management rules to be checked for context data. This is the case, for example, when the context data is received from a connected object that executes or is associated with a conversational agent. The context data then includes the identifier of the conversational agent, thus allowing the method to evaluate only the management rules of the conversational agent associated with the connected object.

[0036] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a method as described above is characterized in that the obtaining step further comprises obtaining at least one second piece of context data from a second connected object and in that the evaluation step corresponds to the evaluation of said first data and / or said second piece of context data as a function of at least one management rule associated with said conversational agent.

[0037] Advantageously, this implementation mode makes it possible to evaluate the management rules of the conversational agent based on the context data of a first and / or a second connected object. The second context data comprises context data of the second connected object and can be obtained from the second connected object and / or from the network.

[0038] The invention also relates to a device for initializing a communication between a conversational agent and a connected object, characterized in that the device comprises: a module for obtaining at least one first context data item comprising at least one identifier of a second connected object; a module for evaluating said at least one first context data item as a function of at least one management rule associated with a conversational agent;

[0039] and when at least one rule of said conversational agent is respected, a module for putting said conversational agent into communication with said second connected object.

[0040] The term module can correspond to a software component as well as to a hardware component or a set of hardware and software components, a software component itself corresponding to one or more computer programs or subroutines or more generally to any element of a program capable of implementing a function or a set of functions as described for the modules concerned. In the same way, a hardware component corresponds to any element of a hardware assembly capable of implementing a function or a set of functions for the module concerned (integrated circuit, smart card, memory card, etc.).

[0041] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the above method according to any of the particular embodiments described above, when said program is executed by a processor. The method can be implemented in various ways, including in hard-wired form or in software form. This program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0042] The invention also relates to a recording medium or information medium readable by a computer, and comprising instructions of a computer program as mentioned above. The recording media mentioned above can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium can comprise a storage means, such as a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a microelectronic circuit ROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a hard disk. Furthermore, the recording media can correspond to a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which can be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

[0043] Alternatively, the recording media may correspond to an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to carry out or to be used in carrying out the method in question.

[0044] This initialization device and this computer program have characteristics and advantages similar to those described previously in relation to the initialization method.

[0045] 4. List of figures

[0046] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given as simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings, among which:

[0047] Illustrates an example of an environment for implementing the invention according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0048] Illustrates schematically an example of architecture of a device suitable for implementing the initialization method according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0049] Illustrates the main steps of the initialization method according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0050] 5. Description of an embodiment of the invention

[0051] Illustrates an example of an environment for implementing the invention according to a particular embodiment of the invention. Illustrates more particularly a terminal 103 capable of implementing the initialization method according to a particular embodiment.

[0052] It should be noted here that, although the terminal 103 illustrated here corresponds to a “server” type terminal, the invention can be applied to any type of terminal having the architecture of a computer such as, for example, and in a non-limiting manner, a games console, a television, an ATM, connected terminals / objects, a router, a tablet, a personal computer, a smartphone, etc.

[0053] In the example described in support of the, the terminal 103 is a server located in a private or public network (for example the Internet) operated by a service provider, the services being for example provided by means of one or more conversational agents. The terminal 103 can communicate with a plurality of connected objects such as for example the connected object 102 (second connected object within the meaning of the invention) which corresponds in our example to an on-board computer of a connected electric car and the connected object 101 (first connected object within the meaning of the invention) which corresponds in our example to an electric charging station. The terminal 103 also communicates with a conversational agent which in our example is hosted at an electric charging station 101.

[0054] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second connected object within the meaning of the invention may correspond to a smartphone (in English smart phone) or to one of the user's electronic tablets connected to the computer / dashboard of the electric car 102.

[0055] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the conversational agent can be distributed partially or totally between the electric charging station and a platform (i.e. a server) located in the network (not shown).

[0056] Communications between the different elements are carried out, for example, via the 100 network (for example IP and / or circuit) and RCS (Rich Communication Services) technology.

[0057] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the electric vehicle 102 can communicate directly with the conversational agent of the charging station 101. The communication can be wired, for example via PLC (Power Line Communication) technology when connecting the electric car 102 to the station 101, or wirelessly via for example Bluetooth®, WiFi® and / or cellular radiotelephony technologies.

[0058] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the terminal 103 can implement the initialization method. In this case, the terminals 103 and 101 are one and the same terminal.

[0059] Illustrates a device 200 configured to implement the initialization method according to a particular embodiment.

[0060] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the device 200 has the conventional architecture of a computer, and notably comprises a memory MEM, a processing unit UT, equipped for example with a processor PROC, and controlled by the computer program PG stored in memory MEM. The computer program PG comprises instructions for implementing the steps of the initialization method as described previously, when the program is executed by the processor PROC.

[0061] At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program PG are for example loaded into a memory before being executed by the processor PROC. The processor PROC of the processing unit UT notably implements the steps of the initialization method according to any one of the particular embodiments described in relation to figures 1 and 3, according to the instructions of the computer program PG.

[0062] The device 200 comprises an OBT module capable of obtaining context data which comprises at least one identifier of a connected object (second connected object within the meaning of the invention, i.e. an identifier of an on-board computer of the connected electric car (102)).

[0063] According to a particular embodiment, the context data obtained by the OBT module are context data of the charging station 101.

[0064] The device 200 also comprises a digital storage module (for example the MEM memory) capable of storing the management rules associated with a conversational agent (for example the management rules associated with the conversational agent hosted / executed by the charging station 101).

[0065] In addition, the device 200 comprises an EVAL module capable of evaluating whether one of the context data respects one of the conditions / rules for managing a conversational agent (threshold reached or exceeded, time slot, status of the connected object (free / busy), etc.).

[0066] The device 200 further comprises a COM1 module configured to put a conversational agent and a connected object into communication via a network, for example IP and / or circuit. This module can for example be used to communicate with the conversational agent of the charging station 101 so that the conversational agent sends a request to initiate a communication to a connected object. This module can also be used to establish a communication with a conversational agent.

[0067] According to a particular embodiment, the device 200 may also comprise a COM2 module capable of establishing communication with a connected object (for example the dashboard of the car 102) via a network (100) for example IP and / or circuit. When the device establishes communication with a connected object (via the COM2 module) and communication with a conversational agent (via the COM1 module), the device can connect the two communications via a connection module (not shown) so that the conversational agent and the connected object can communicate without an intermediary.

[0068] According to a particular embodiment, the COM1 module and the COM2 module are one and the same module.

[0069] According to a particular embodiment, the OBT1 module is included in the COM2 module or in the COM1 module.

[0070] Illustrates steps of the initialization method according to one of the particular embodiments of the invention presented previously, the method being executed on the terminal 103 described in.

[0071] In this particular embodiment, the first connected object within the meaning of the invention corresponds to the second connected object within the meaning of the invention, for example to the dashboard of the electric car 102.

[0072] During a first step 300, the method obtains context data from the electric car 102. This data is, for example, its position (for example, GPS data), the battery charge level, the estimated range, an identifier of the car 102 and, more generally, all of the data associated with the electric car. This data is obtained from the car 102 and / or from a server located in the network (not shown) capable of collecting by telemetry the data managed and / or generated by the car, for example, via its on-board computer and / or its on-board sensors.

[0073] According to a particular embodiment, in the case where the second connected object within the meaning of the invention corresponds to an electronic tablet or a smartphone connected to the dashboard of the electric car 102, the context data of the electric car 102 may comprise an identifier making it possible to contact the smartphone / electronic tablet (for example a telephone number and / or an electronic address such as an instant messaging address) and / or data obtained, managed and / or generated by the electronic tablet / smartphone (parameters of the car such as the charge level of the electric batteries, the GPS position, etc.).

[0074] According to a particular embodiment, the method can further obtain context data of the charging station 101 such as the charging time slots reserved by other vehicles or its state / status (free / occupied / functional / non-functional). Note that the context data of the charging station 101 can comprise or correspond to at least one identifier of the conversational agent hosted / executed at the charging station 101. The context data of the charging station 101 can be obtained from the charging station itself or from a server located in the network (not shown) capable of collecting by telemetry the data managed and / or generated by the charging station 101 and / or its on-board sensors. The context data of the charging station 101 can also be obtained from the car / on-board computer 102 in the case where the vehicle is in the vicinity of the charging station 101.The context data of the charging station 101 are for example obtained by the vehicle 102 from the charging station 101 via WiFi®, Bluetooth®, NFC® (Near Field Communication), Zigbee®, QR code (QRCode for quick response code), IrDA (Infra-red Data Association) technology, etc.

[0075] Prior to step 300 or during step 300, the method obtains management rules for the conversational agent hosted / executed at the charging station 101. These rules are obtained from the station 101 and / or from a server located in the network (for example a memory space of the terminal 103) capable of storing the management rules associated with the conversational agent of the station 101. The management rules are for example associated with an identifier of the conversational agent of the station 101.

[0076] In step 301, the method determines whether one of the rules associated with the conversational agent of the terminal 101 is respected. Concretely, the rules of the conversational agent can be: reaching a threshold for a particular context data, for example the charge level of the batteries of the vehicle 102 (50%, 60%, 70%, etc.); the position (GPS coordinates obtained in the context data) of the car 102 within a predefined zone, for example within a radius of 2 km from the terminal 101; a reservation of a recharge at a third-party charging station in the near future, for example 30 minutes after the current time; the presence of the identifier of the vehicle 102 in a white list. For example, a list of vehicles in a company fleet; the presence of the identifier of the vehicle 102 in a black list. Indeed, a dispute may have arisen between the charging service manager and the user of vehicle 102.In this case, the manager can prohibit its charging infrastructure to the user and consequently to the vehicle 102; the status / state of the charging station (free / occupied / functional / non-functional) 101; the reserved / available charging time slots; etc.

[0077] Obviously, the management rules can be combined. For example, a management rule associated with the conversational agent of the charging station 101 can be: the initialization of a communication with the dashboard of a connected car (second connected object within the meaning of the invention) when the car is located near the charging station 101 (for example less than 1 km away) and the charge level of the vehicle's batteries is less than 50%.

[0078] In this case, during step 301 the method evaluates, using the GPS coordinates of the car 102 included in the context data obtained during step 300, the distance between the car 102 and the charging station 101. Thus, the method can determine whether the car 102 is close to the charging station 101. Cumulatively, the method can check in the context data obtained during step 300, the charge level of the batteries of the car 102.

[0079] According to a particular embodiment, the method can alternatively or cumulatively evaluate the management rules of a second connected object such as the charging station 101. For example, the state / availability of the charging station 101 (free / occupied). For example, the method can add the condition of the availability (free / not used) of the charging station 101 to the conditions of proximity and charge level of the batteries of the vehicle 102.

[0080] Note that when an identifier of the conversational agent of the charging station 101 is present in the context data obtained from the charging station 101, the method can evaluate only the management rules associated with the identifier of the conversational agent of the charging station 101.

[0081] In step 302, when a management rule of the conversational agent of the charging station 101 is respected, the method puts the conversational agent of the charging station 101 into communication with the dashboard of the vehicle 102. The conversational agent can thus propose to the driver of the vehicle 102 via for example the dashboard screen and / or the audio system of the vehicle (voice message) to reserve the current time slot to recharge the batteries.

[0082] According to a particular embodiment, when a management rule of the conversational agent of the charging station 101 is respected, the method puts the conversational agent of the charging station 101 into communication with a terminal connected to the on-board computer / dashboard of the vehicle 102 (for example the user's smartphone or electronic tablet). The conversational agent can thus propose to the driver of the vehicle 102 via for example the screen of the smartphone / tablet and / or the audio system of the smartphone / tablet (voice message) to reserve the current time slot to recharge the batteries.

[0083] According to a particular embodiment, the method can send to the conversational agent of the charging station 101 a request (303) for initialization of a communication between the conversational agent of the charging station 101 and the dashboard of the car 102. This request can include the identifier of the vehicle 102 and / or of the dashboard of the vehicle 102 obtained during step 300 allowing the conversational agent to establish communication with the dashboard of the vehicle 102. According to a particular embodiment, this request can include the identifier of a terminal connected to the dashboard of the vehicle 102.

[0084] According to a particular embodiment, the method can establish a first communication with the dashboard of the vehicle 102 and a second communication with the conversational agent of the charging station 101, then join the two communications so that the conversational agent of the charging station 101 and the dashboard of the vehicle 102 can communicate without an intermediary. Note that the establishment of the communication with the dashboard of the vehicle 102 can be carried out using the identifier of the vehicle 102 and / or the identifier of the dashboard of the vehicle 102 obtained during step 300. According to a particular embodiment, the first communication is established with a terminal connected to the dashboard of the vehicle 102. Note that in this case the establishment of the communication with the terminal can be carried out using the identifier of the terminal obtained during step 300.

[0085] It goes without saying that the embodiment described above has been given for purely indicative purposes and is in no way limiting, and that numerous modifications can easily be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0086] For example, the first connected object within the meaning of the invention may be different from the second connected object within the meaning of the invention, the first connected object being able to correspond to the charging station 101 and the second connected object being able to correspond to the vehicle 102 (for example the dashboard).

[0087] Thus, during the first step 300, the method obtains context data from the charging station 101. This data is, for example, the state / status of the station (free / occupied / functional / non-functional), the time slots reserved for the station in question, an identifier of the conversational agent of the charging station, etc. This data is obtained from the station 101 and / or from a server located in the network (not shown) capable of collecting by telemetry the data managed and / or generated by the station via, for example, on-board sensors.

[0088] This context data may also include an identifier of the vehicle 102 (or of a terminal connected to the on-board computer of the vehicle 102) obtained by the terminal 101 when the vehicle 102 is in proximity to the terminal 101. The identifier of the vehicle 102 is for example obtained via WiFi®, Bluetooth®, NFC® (Near Field Communication), Zigbee®, QR code (QRCode for quick response code), IrDA (Infrared Data Association) technology, etc.

[0089] According to a particular embodiment, the method can also obtain context data from the vehicle 102. This data is for example the position of the vehicle 102 (for example GPS data), the battery charge level, the estimated autonomy, an identifier of the car 102 and more generally all the data associated with the electric car. This data is obtained from the car 102 and / or from a terminal connected to the car 102 (smartphone / electronic tablet) and / or from a server located in the network (not shown) capable of collecting by telemetry the data, obtained, managed and / or generated by the terminal connected to the on-board computer of the car 102 and / or by the car itself via for example its on-board computer and / or its on-board sensors. The context data from the vehicle 102 can also be obtained from the charging station 101.Indeed, when the vehicle 102 is near a charging station (for example the station 101), the vehicle can transmit its context data to the station which, once collected, transmits the context data of the vehicle 102 to the server 103.

[0090] Prior to step 300 or during step 300, the method obtains management rules for the conversational agent of the charging station 101. These rules are obtained from the station 101 and / or from a server located in the network (for example a memory space of the terminal 103) capable of storing the management rules associated with the conversational agent of the station 101. The management rules are for example associated with an identifier of the conversational agent of the station 101.

[0091] In step 301, the method determines whether one of the rules of the conversational agent of the terminal 101 is respected. Note that the management rules can be evaluated based on the context data of the charging terminal 101 and / or the context data of the vehicle 102.

[0092] It should also be noted that when an identifier of the conversational agent of the charging station 101 is present in the context data obtained from the charging station 101, the method can evaluate only the management rules associated with the identifier of the conversational agent of the charging station 101.

[0093] In step 302, the method puts the conversational agent of the charging station 101 into communication with the dashboard of the vehicle 102. The embodiments described previously allowing communication between the conversational agent of the charging station 101 and the dashboard of the vehicle 102 remain valid.

[0094] According to a particular embodiment, in step 302, the method puts the conversational agent of the charging station 101 into communication with the user's terminal (smartphone / electronic tablet) connected to the on-board computer of the car 102.

[0095] According to a particular embodiment, the method can also send to the vehicle 102 a notification (303) indicating that a request to initialize a communication will be sent by the conversational agent of the terminal 101, the notification comprising an identifier of the conversational agent of the terminal 101. This embodiment makes it possible to avoid unsolicited messages. Thus, only communication requests from conversational agents for which an identifier has been previously received will be accepted by the vehicle / dashboard 102.

[0096] According to a particular embodiment, the method can, during step 300, obtain in the context data configuration data of the conversational agent of the terminal 101. This configuration data can comprise an identifier of the conversational agent of the terminal 101 and / or all the data allowing the conversational agent of the terminal 101 to adapt the messages sent to the vehicle 102 during and after the establishment of a communication. The data can be a recharging history, an identifier of a loyalty card allowing the cost of recharging to be adjusted, the name of the user of the vehicle 102, etc.

[0097] Concretely, once the configuration data has been obtained (step 300), the method sends the configuration data to the conversational agent during the communication establishment step 302. This configuration data may be included in the request to initialize a communication between the conversational agent of the terminal 101 and the vehicle / dashboard of the vehicle 102, the request being sent to the conversational agent. Alternatively, this configuration data may be included in a request to establish a communication sent by the method to the conversational agent of the terminal 101.

Claims

Method for initiating communication between a conversational agent (101) and a connected object (102), said method being implemented by an initialization device and characterized in that it comprises: - a step of obtaining (300) at least one first piece of context data including at least one identifier of a second connected object; - a step of evaluating said at least one first piece of context data according to at least one business rule associated with a conversational agent; and when at least one rule of said conversational agent is respected - a step of establishing communication (302) of said conversational agent with said second connected object. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the communication establishment step includes at least one step of sending, to said conversational agent, a request to initiate communication between said conversational agent and said second connected object, said request including at least one identifier of said second connected object. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the communication step comprises at least: - a first step of establishing a first communication with said conversational agent; - a second step of establishing a second communication with said second connected object; - a step of joining said first and said second communication. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said communication step is followed or preceded by a transmission step (303) of a notification to said second connected object. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one first context data includes at least one configuration data of said conversational agent and in that the communication step includes a step of transmitting said at least one received configuration data to said conversational agent. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one first context data includes at least one context data of a first connected object and in that said at least one context data of said first connected object is obtained from said first connected object. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one first context data includes at least one context data of a first connected object and in that said at least one context data of said first connected object is obtained from the network. Method according to claims 6 and 7 characterized in that said first connected object corresponds to said second connected object. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one first piece of context data includes at least one identifier of a conversational agent and in that the evaluation of said at least one first piece of context data is carried out according to at least one business rule associated with said at least one identifier of said conversational agent. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the obtaining step further includes obtaining at least one second context data from a second connected object and in that the evaluation step corresponds to the evaluation of said first data and / or said second context data according to at least one business rule associated with said conversational agent. Device for initiating communication between a conversational agent (101) and a connected object (102), characterized in that the device comprises: - a module for obtaining (OBT) at least one first piece of context data including at least one identifier of a second connected object; - a module for evaluating said at least one first piece of context data according to at least one business rule associated with a conversational agent; - a module for establishing communication (COM1) between said conversational agent and said second connected object. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, when the program is executed by a processor.

Images