Mobile Terminal Service Control via Visual Input Options

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing service control methods in telecommunications networks, particularly for mobile devices, are inconvenient and difficult for users to navigate due to the need to remember input options, leading to reduced usage, especially among inexperienced users.

Innovation Solution

Displaying input options visually on the terminal device's display or input device, allowing users to control services intuitively by reproducing available options, such as through button representations on a touch-sensitive screen, and enabling user-specific customization of operating functionalities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If input options are provided through voice dialog systems with automated dialogues, then service control functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because users must remember input options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice control functionalityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates visual copies of the input options on the display device that replicate the functionality of voice dialog systems. These visual representations show users exactly what input options are available, eliminating the need to remember complex voice commands while maintaining full service control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The display device serves as an intermediary between the service control system and the user. It translates the abstract voice dialogue instructions into concrete visual representations of input options, making the control mechanism more intuitive and easier to operate while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If input options are announced via voice dialog system, then service navigation capability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to need to remember options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice navigation capabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent displays visual copies of input options on the screen that mirror the voice dialog system's navigation capabilities. This allows users to see exactly what options are available for service navigation without needing to memorize the voice command structure, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining navigation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The display device presents input options in advance before the user needs to make a selection. By showing the available options upfront, the system eliminates the need for users to remember what options exist, making the navigation process more intuitive and easier to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If detailed input option information is transmitted via telecommunications network, then service control accuracy is improved, but information transmission requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice control accuracyVSAvoidinformation transmission requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for service control from the full service description and presents it visually on the display device. This selective extraction maintains the accuracy needed for proper service control while significantly reducing the amount of information that needs to be transmitted through the telecommunications network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting complete service control information through the network, the system creates visual copies of the necessary input options locally on the display device. This approach maintains service control accuracy while minimizing information transmission requirements, as the display can present pre-processed visual representations of control options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP1775920B1Control of services provided by a telecommunication network
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 VODAFONE HOLDING GMBH
  • EP1775920B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1775920B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1775920B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for operating an end device (1), preferably a mobile device (1), which can be used in a telecommunications network, preferably a mobile network, and which has a display device (4, 5, 10) for optical and/or acoustic reproduction of information and at least one input device (6, 7, 8, 10) for recording information, wherein services provided via the telecommunications network can be controlled by means of inputs made by the input device (6, 7, 8, 10), and which is characterized in that input options available for controlling a service are optically reproduced by the display device (4, 10) of the end device (1) and/or by the input device (6, 8) of the end device (1).Furthermore, the present invention relates to an end device (1), preferably a mobile end device (1), for use in a telecommunications network, preferably a mobile network, with a display device (4, 5, 10) for optical and/or acoustic reproduction of information and at least one input device (6, 7, 8, 10) for recording information, wherein services provided via the telecommunications network can be controlled by means of inputs made by the input device (6, 7, 8, 10), which is characterized in that input options available for controlling a service can be optically reproduced by the display device (4, 10) and/or the input device (6, 8).