Web calling system

Abstract

To provide a WEB call system that implements a call at a low charge and makes it possible to acquire desired information at real time.SOLUTION: A WEB call system comprises a first terminal device 2 that is a call source, a second terminal device 3 that is a call destination, and a server 1 for controlling a WEB call by real time communication via a WEB between the terminal devices 2, 3. When a call origination command is input from the first terminal device 2, the call source, by turning ON a call origination button B provided in a WEB site during browsing of the WEB site at the first terminal device 2, the call source, the server 1 connects a URL defined in the call origination command and outputs notification of the call origination to the second terminal device 3, the call destination, at which browsing of the URL is performed. When a call enabling command is input from the second terminal device 3, the call destination, the server displays a dedicated call WEB site on a WEB browser during actuation at the first terminal device 2, the call source, and the second terminal device 3, the call destination, and permits the WEB call.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a web calling system, and more particularly to a web calling system that enables a call to be made by clicking a call button provided on an internet website. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when browsing a website, if you want to know more about the content posted on the website, such as details about a product or service, you would call or send an email to the contact number listed on the website. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, calling the contact number listed on the website will incur a call charge. Of course, there are also free phone plans, but the call is free only for the caller; the company still pays the call charge. Also, contacting by email will not allow you to obtain the information you want in real time.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a web calling system that has low call charges and allows desired information to be obtained in real time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention relates to a web calling system including a server that controls web calling using WebRTC or the like, a call originating terminal device, a call destination terminal device, and the Internet that connects the call originating terminal device, the call destination terminal device, and the server, A call button for connecting to the terminal device of the called party is provided in advance on the desired website, When the call originating terminal device turns on the call call button while browsing the website and a call call command is output from the call originating terminal device, the call originating terminal device connects to the URL defined in the call call command and outputs a message to the call destination terminal device browsing the URL that a call has been made; When a call enable command is output from the terminal device of the destination of the call, the display of the web browsers running on the terminal device of the originating call and the terminal device of the destination of the call is transitioned to a dedicated call website with a specified URL, and real-time communication via the web is connected, thereby enabling a web call between the terminal device of the originating call and the terminal device of the destination of the call, thereby solving the above problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, a web call is permitted simply by turning on the call call button, so the call charges are low and desired information can be obtained in real time. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a web calling system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a website using a call call button of the web calling system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between a call call button and a URL in the web calling system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a dedicated calling website displayed on the displays of the terminal devices of the caller and the callee in an embodiment of the web calling system according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a flowchart showing information processing executed in an embodiment of the web calling system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The web calling system S of this embodiment is a system that executes real-time communication via a web browser, such as WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), and performs peer-to-peer communication directly within a web page. This allows voice chat, video chat, file sharing, and other functions between web browsers without the need to install a plug-in or download a native app. The web calling system S of this embodiment can be used for services such as questions about content posted on a website, applications, membership / cancellation, and consultations, without any particular limitations.

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a web calling system according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the web calling system S of this embodiment includes a server 1, and a first terminal device 2 and a second terminal device 3 connected to the server 1 via the Internet 4. Each of the server 1, the first terminal device 2, and the second terminal device 3 is configured as a computer including a ROM storing a program, a CPU (which may be an MPU or other arithmetic processing device) that executes the program stored in the ROM, a RAM that functions as an accessible storage device, and an interface that functions as a communication device.

[0010] The server 1 is a computer that controls voice or video calls between a first terminal device 2 and a second terminal device 3 through real-time communication via the Web.

[0011] A first terminal device 2 and a second terminal device 3 connected to the server 1 perform a voice call or a video call using WebRTC under the control of the server 1. To this end, each of the first terminal device 2 and the second terminal device 3 is equipped with a microphone and a speaker (or a headset combining these) used by the user, and a camera for capturing video. Note that a camera is not required for a voice call. The voice call or video call is conducted between the first terminal device 2 as the service receiving terminal and the second terminal device 3 as the service providing terminal. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 1, both the first terminal device 2 on the service receiving side and the second terminal device 3 on the service providing side are one device. However, for example, one second terminal device 3 may be connected to multiple first terminal devices 2. Furthermore, multiple second terminal devices 3 may be connected to multiple first terminal devices 2. Examples of the first terminal device 2 and the second terminal device 3 include devices that have at least a website browsing function and a software execution function for the web call system of this embodiment, such as a smartphone, a desktop PC, a laptop, or a PDA.

[0012] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a website using the web calling system S according to the present invention, and shows an example displayed on the display 21 of the first terminal device 2. The web calling system S of this embodiment targets websites on which a call call button B is attached, and when a guest using the web calling system S of this embodiment connects to the web page shown in FIG. 2 using a web browser installed on the first terminal device 2 and views the content of products and services listed there, if the guest wants to know more about a specific product or service on the site, the guest uses the call call button B to collect information through a real-time web call.

[0013] For example, suppose a guest looking to take one-on-one English conversation lessons browses Company A's website, where several instructors, such as Instructor X, Y, etc., are listed, along with the specific English conversation education content provided by each instructor. If the guest is interested in learning more about the content of Instructor X's lessons, for example, they can click (ON) the call button B attached near the introduction of Instructor X, which will initiate a web call with the second terminal device 3 installed at the support center for one-on-one English conversation lessons provided by Company A.

[0014] Any number of such call call buttons B can be pasted at any position on the website, and when a call call button B is clicked, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) defined in accordance with that call call button B is output to the server 1 via HTTP communication, and the server 1, receiving this, sends a command signal to output a call call sound to the second terminal device 3 that is viewing the URL. In other words, if the call call button B is clicked by the first terminal device 2 (a guest) while the second terminal device 3 installed in a support center or the like is viewing a customer support website using a web browser installed on the second terminal device 3, a call call sound will immediately be heard on the second terminal device 3.

[0015] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the call call button B and a URL in the web call system S of this embodiment. When multiple call call buttons B are attached to a website, different URLs can be defined for each call call button B, as shown in FIG. 3. This allows different contact points to be set depending on the call call button B that is clicked.

[0016] When the second terminal device 3 rings and the operator of the second terminal device 3 hears the ring and clicks (ON) a call enable button (not shown) displayed on the display screen of the web browser of the second terminal device 3, the server 1 transitions the display screens of the web browser of the first terminal device 2 and the web browser of the second terminal device 3 to a dedicated call website. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the dedicated call website displayed on the display 31 of the second terminal device 3, illustrating an example of a voice call. This dedicated call website is a web call site using WebRTC.

[0017] As described above, the second terminal device 3 can be configured as a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a smartphone. If the application software of the web communication system of this embodiment is installed on a smartphone and used as the second terminal device 3, the operator in charge of any of the counters A to F can easily notice an incoming call from a guest by a ringtone or vibration if they carry the smartphone with them, even when they are not in their fixed location, such as when they are on the move or outdoors. Also, if they carry the smartphone with them, they can answer the call on the smartphone even when they are not in their fixed location.

[0018] Next, a description will be given of the operation performed by the WEB calling system S of this embodiment. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing information processing executed by the WEB calling system S of this embodiment.

[0019] First, in step S1, when a guest browsing the website shown in FIG. 2 using the first terminal device 2 clicks on the call call button B, this is sent to the server 1. In the following step S2, the server 1 connects to the URL defined in the clicked call call button B via HTTP communication, and in step S3, it sends a signal to output a call call sound from the speaker of the second terminal device 3 connected to the URL. As a result, in step S4, a call call sound is emitted from the speaker of the second terminal device 3 connected to the URL. Note that if the second terminal device 3 is a smartphone, a vibration function may be activated instead of the call call sound.

[0020] In the following step S5, if the operator operating the second terminal device 3 is available to make a call, he / she clicks (ON) the available call button displayed on the display screen of the web browser of the second terminal device 3. As a result, the process proceeds to step S8, but if the available call button is not clicked within a predetermined time, such as when the operator is busy with another web call or is busy when the call rings, the process proceeds to step S6, and the server 1 sends a message to the first terminal device 2 that the customer support service that is the current call destination is full. As a result, in step S7, the display of the first terminal device 2 displays a message that the call destination is full.

[0021] In step S5, when the operator operating the second terminal device 3 clicks the call ready button displayed on the display screen of the web browser of the second terminal device 3, the server 1, which receives this, transitions the website displayed on the respective displays of the first terminal device 2 and the second terminal device 3 to a dedicated call website as shown in Fig. 4 in step S8. As a result, in step S9, the first terminal device 2 used by the guest and the second terminal device 3 used by the operator of the customer support center are connected via WebRTC, and a voice call or video call is initiated.

[0022] The display of the first terminal device 2 used by the guest displays, for example, an image of the operator captured by the camera of the second terminal device 3 used by an operator of the customer support center, or document data read by the second terminal device 3, while the speaker of the first terminal device 2 used by the guest outputs the voice of the operator collected by the microphone of the second terminal device 3. Similarly, the display of the second terminal device 3 used by the operator displays, for example, an image of the guest captured by the camera of the first terminal device 2 used by the guest, or document data read by the first terminal device 2, while the speaker of the second terminal device 3 used by the operator outputs the voice of the guest collected by the microphone of the first terminal device 2. A conversation between the guest and the operator takes place through such voice or video calls.

[0023] As described above, according to the web calling system S of this embodiment, a call call button B is provided at a desired location on the website, and the guest simply clicks on this call call button B, which causes a ringtone to sound on the second terminal device 3 at the other end of the call. When the guest clicks on the call available button, a dedicated call website is displayed in the web browsers of the first terminal device 2 and the second terminal device 3, and a web call using WebRTC is initiated.

[0024] In the web calling system S of this embodiment, calls are made via WebRTC without using commercial telephone lines, resulting in significantly lower line usage fees. Furthermore, when desired information is available, calls can be made instantly in real time, enabling rapid information gathering and provision. Furthermore, because information gathering and provision is done through conversation, it can be done more easily and quickly than through written inquiries, such as email inquiries. Furthermore, since it can be supported by a web browser rather than specific calling software, it can be used on any terminal device capable of browsing websites without installing specific software. Furthermore, there is no need to exchange a calling URL in advance, as is required with calling software.

[0025] Furthermore, with the web calling system S of this embodiment, a call can be made to an operator at the customer support center simply by clicking the call call button B on the website, so there is no risk of the caller's personal information being leaked, and the customer support center at the other end of the call does not need to manage personal information.

[0026] Furthermore, in the web calling system S of this embodiment, when the call call button B is clicked from the first terminal device 2, which is the call originator, a ringtone sounds on the second terminal device 3, which is the call destination, so the operator can respond without having to constantly stare at the display of the second terminal device 3, which gives the operator greater freedom in their work.

[0027] In addition, in the WEB calling system S of this embodiment, different URLs can be defined for each call call button B, so the response content of the operator at the second terminal device 3, which is the communication destination, is predetermined, making it easier to respond.

[0028] In the web calling system S of this embodiment, at least a part of the second terminal device 3 is configured as a smartphone, so if the operator carries the smartphone with them, they can easily notice an incoming call from a guest by a ringtone or vibration even when they are not in their fixed location, such as when they are on the move or outdoors. Also, if the operator carries the smartphone with them, they can answer the call on the smartphone even when they are not in their fixed location. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] S...WEB calling system 1...Main server 2...First terminal device (caller) 3...Second terminal device (call destination) 4...Telecommunications network (Internet)

Claims

1. A system comprising: a terminal device of a call originator; a terminal device of a call destination; a server that controls a web call by real-time communication via the web between the terminal devices; and the internet that connects the terminal device of the call originator, the terminal device of the call destination, and the server; The server When a call call command is input from the call originating terminal device by turning on a call call button provided on the website while the call originating terminal device is browsing the website, the call originating terminal device connects to a URL defined in the call call command and outputs a message to the call destination terminal device browsing the URL indicating that a call call has been made; When a call enable command is input from the terminal device of the called party, the display of the web browsers running on the terminal device of the originating party and the terminal device of the called party is changed to a dedicated call web site with a specified URL, and real-time communication via the web is connected, enabling a web call between the terminal device of the originating party and the terminal device of the called party.

2. a plurality of the call call buttons are provided on a website browsed by the terminal device of the call originator; 2. The web calling system according to claim 1, wherein different URLs are defined for the respective call buttons.

3. 3. The web communication system according to claim 1, wherein the output indicating that a call is being made is a sound signal.

4. The web calling system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least some of the terminal devices of the called parties are smartphones.

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