Telecommunications call augmentation system

Abstract

A method of augmenting a telecommunications call, the method comprising: detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device; selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with the calling party; augmenting the call with the item of media content; detecting a user interaction with the device in response to the item of media content; and transmitting information relating to the user interaction to the calling party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of augmenting a telecommunications call, the method comprising:
 detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device;   selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with the calling party;   augmenting the call with the item of media content;   detecting a user interaction with the device in response to the item of media content; and   transmitting information relating to the user interaction to the calling party.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the item of media content from a local cache on the device. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the item of media content has previously been provided by the calling party to the local cache on the device. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is retrieved or downloaded from a remote server, for example by an application on the user device. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the application is provided by or otherwise associated with the calling party. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4  or  5 , wherein the downloading of the item of media content is integrated with an update of the application. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to any of  claims 4  to  6 , wherein the downloading of the item of media content occurs periodically. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to any of  claims 4  to  7 , wherein the downloading of the item of media content occurs in response to a user interaction with the calling party. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to any of  claims 4  to  8 , wherein the downloading of the item of media content is dependent on the user granting permission via interacting with an item of media content present on the device. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any of  claims 4  to  9 , further comprising prompting the device to download the item of media content from the remote server via a signal received from a remote server and/or by the telecommunications call event. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is associated with a user profile, preferably the profile being dependent on one or more of: network operator/tariff, device model, other applications on device, call/text frequency, data usage, volume of changes of location, battery size, and number of contacts. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is associated with an expiry date and/or time beyond which it is no longer presented to the user. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is provided as a payload part of the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein the item of media content is provided via a different communications channel than that used for the provision of the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the telecommunications call is provided via a voice channel, the media content via a data channel. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14  or  15 , wherein the item of media content is downloaded via a higher speed channel or network than that used for the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to any of  claims 2  to  16 , further comprising receiving at the user device a signal enquiring about the presence of items of media content, preferably a specific media content item, in the local cache. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the device signalling that items of media content have, preferably that the specific item of media content has, been downloaded to the device cache and/or that the items are or item is available for use in augmenting the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to any of  claims 2  to  18 , further comprising, if a specific item of media content is not available, selecting another, preferably related, item of media content from the device cache with which to augment the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising prioritising the presentation of the item of media content to the user ahead of other media items. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the prioritising is based on a list of qualifying contact details, preferably provided to and/or stored on the user device. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising prioritising the handling of an incoming telecommunications call by an application on the user device which supports the method of telecommunications call augmentation. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the prioritising between applications is in dependence on the time of last use of the applications. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is presented on the incoming call screen. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content comprises an indicator or identifier allowing the user to identify the calling party. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the indicator is a trade mark. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content comprises at least one of: audio, preferably in the form of a ringtone, and/or a visual item, preferably text or an image. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content indicates a planned call subject, topic or content. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content indicates information relating to a user account, order or event, preferably one with the calling party. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is selected from a plurality of available items relating to the calling party. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein the item of media content is selected based on at least one of: time, user or device location, user characteristics, previous user interactions. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the item of media content is selected in dependence on a schedule, preferably downloaded to the user device. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the order of items in the schedule may be changed remotely, preferably by means of a signal received by the user device. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content indicates a menu of options, preferably comprising at least two items. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the user interaction comprises at least one of: a touch, a press, a swipe, voice or other body action or movement, optionally the method further comprising displaying a message to the user in dependence on the interaction. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the information transmitted relating to the user interaction comprises one or more of: a selection from the menu of options, navigation of an IVR system, the expression of an interest, mood, a preference, a vote or an instruction. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , further comprising in response to the user interaction presenting a further item of media content to the user, optionally detecting a further user interaction and preferably transmitting information relating to the further user interaction to the calling party. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36  or  37 , wherein the instruction comprises the user scheduling or re-scheduling of an event, preferably via a selection from a menu of alternative dates and/or times, interacting with a media content item representation of a clock and/or calendar, swiping of a slider. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein the interaction comprises the user selecting an amount, preferably via one of: a selecting from a menu of alternative amounts, swiping of a slider. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to any of  claims 36  to  39 , wherein the instruction comprises a request for one or more of: a postponement (for example, specifying a delay for a later call-back), use of or switch to an alternative means of communication (for example, text chat rather than voice call), that the calling party desist. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40 , wherein the instruction further comprises scheduling the user device to initiate contact with the calling party at a future time. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41 , further comprising presenting the user with a related item of media content ahead of the contact with the calling party being initiated. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising exchanging electronic files between the user and the calling party. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising reporting to the calling party whether the telecommunications call was augmented with the item of media content, preferably determining and reporting to the calling party whether the user's behaviour was altered in response to the item of media content. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the calling party comprises a second user with a second user device. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein one or other user may select from a plurality of options, preferably information regarding the selection being transmitted to the other user, and/or edit the items of media content used to augment the telecommunications call to the other user. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 45  or  46 , wherein one or other user may select from a plurality of options and/or edit the actions resulting from interaction of the other user with the item of media content used to augment the call. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising alternatively or in addition augmenting the telecommunications call with an item of media content mid-call. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising the user receiving a request from the calling party to consider, and preferably to interact with, an item of media content augmenting the telecommunications call. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content is one or more of: an image or video for tutorial purposes, a secure password, a live video or text feed. 
     
     
         51 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the item of media content presents the user with the option to share content on social media, open a chat window, or complete a survey. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising alternatively or in addition presenting the item of media content to the user on a call waiting screen, when the user is already engaged on a telecommunications call with another party. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising, on termination of the call, performing an action in dependence on a uniform resource identifier or URI associated with the item of media content. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising transmitting information relating to the user interaction also or alternatively to a party other than the calling party. 
     
     
         55 . A method of augmenting a telecommunications call placed to a user telecommunications device, the method comprising:
 selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with the calling party;   augmenting the call with the item of media content; and   determining and reporting to the calling party whether the user's behaviour was altered in response to the item of media content.   
     
     
         56 . A method of augmenting a telecommunications call received from a user telecommunications device, the method comprising:
 selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with the calling party and relating to a plurality of menu items;   augmenting the call with the item of media content;   detecting a user interaction with the device in response to the item of media content, corresponding to the user selection of a menu item; and   transmitting information relating to the user interaction to the calling party.   
     
     
         57 . A method substantially as herein described and/or as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
     
         58 . Apparatus for carrying out the method of any preceding claim. 
     
     
         59 . Apparatus for augmenting a telecommunications call, comprising:
 a detecting module for detecting a telecommunications call event at a user telecommunications device;   a selecting module for selecting an item of media content, the item of media content being associated with the calling party;   an augmenting module for augmenting the call with the item of media content;   a module for detecting a user interaction with the device in response to the item of media content; and   a module for transmitting information relating to the user interaction to the calling party.   
     
     
         60 . Apparatus substantially as herein described and/or as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
     
         61 . A system for augmenting a telecommunications call, the system comprising:
 a media server, for storing items of media content;   a calling device, for placing telecommunications calls to a client or user device;   optionally, a client or user device;   wherein the system is adapted to carry out the method of any of  claims 1  to  55 .   
     
     
         62 . A system substantially as herein described and/or as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
     
         63 . A computer program product comprising software code for carrying out the method of any of  claims 1  to  57 . 
     
     
         64 . A client or user device in the form of a telecommunications device or handset such as a smartphone or tablet adapted to execute the computer program product of  claim 63 .