DE102011111569A1 - Method for establishing a communication connection - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of establishing a communication link between a first mobile communication terminal and a second communication device, wherein the first mobile communication terminal establishes, by means of a user-controlled dial-in control device, preferably after registration, a preferably secure connection to an Internet server having vehicle registration registers, respectively a mailbox and at least one telephone number or Internet address are associated with a telecommunications terminal associated with a second communications device, the first mobile communications terminal transmits, by means of a user-controlled selection control device, a message or request message relating to a vehicle license plate to the Internet server using a substantially alphanumeric string, the Internet server the message ode r Request message automatically deposited in the associated to the requested vehicle registration mailbox and automatically checks whether a reference entry for a phone number or Internet address of the second communication device associated telecommunications terminal is present and enabled for the requested vehicle license plate and stored in such a case, the one in the vehicle registration register one or more Phone number or Internet address to the requested identifier transmitted to the first mobile communication terminal and the first mobile communication terminal after confirmation by means of the user-guided dialing control device is adapted to establish a connection to the second communication device associated telecommunications terminal.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of establishing a communication link between a first mobile communication terminal and a second communication device, wherein the first mobile communication terminal establishes, by means of a user-controlled dial-in control device, preferably after registration, a preferably secure connection to an Internet server having vehicle registration registers, respectively a mailbox and at least one telephone number or Internet address are associated with a telecommunications terminal associated with a second communications device, the first mobile communications terminal transmits, by means of a user-controlled selection control device, a message or request message relating to a vehicle license plate to the Internet server using a substantially alphanumeric string, the Internet server the message ode r Request message automatically deposited in the associated to the requested vehicle registration mailbox and automatically checks whether a reference entry for a phone number or Internet address of the second communication device associated telecommunications terminal is present and enabled for the requested vehicle license plate and stored in such a case, the one in the vehicle registration register one or more Phone number or Internet address to the requested identifier transmitted to the first mobile communication terminal and the first mobile communication terminal after confirmation by means of the user-controlled dial-in control device is adapted to establish a connection to the second communication device associated telecommunications terminal.

In particular, in road traffic, it would be particularly desirable in emergencies or some other situations when a motor vehicle driver z. B. could be achieved via a conventional public telecommunications network, although its name and telephone number are unknown. In many cases, it would already be helpful to send a message to the motor vehicle driver, who can retrieve it at a later date, provided that direct accessibility is not possible. Because of the frequently given mobile situation of caller (here: participant 1 ) and the person to be called (here: participants 2 ) as well as the high degree of penetration of mobile network connections and terminals, the use according to the invention as a means of communication in particular offers the use of mobile Internet access by means of Internet-capable mobile phones. However, the system according to the invention is also usable for the users by non-mobile, conventional communication techniques.

From the DE 197 04 085 A1 a communication system is known which is suitable for wireless communication between vehicles, each vehicle being identifiable and selectable via the vehicle registration number. In this case, the communication devices of the vehicles communicate directly with each other, ie without a mediating place the communication takes place. Although the communication should also be feasible via a public telecommunications network, but this is nothing closer.

Patent US 5,668,880 discloses a method for communication between vehicles, wherein in the vehicles communication means are provided, each of which is identifiable by the license plate of the vehicle. By entering the license plate number in the communication device, a connection to the communication device of the associated vehicle can be established. The use of a public communication system or a central data management device is not provided for in these methods.

An automatic telephone number inquiry system is in DE 3786 101 T2 ( EP 0 238 257 B1 ), wherein software is coupled via a personal computer (PC) to a communication terminal and the public communication system. The user can access both a stored in the PC directory and a central telephone number information of the communication system and search for desired entries using almost any search parameters and display.

DE 199341345 C2 Finally, discloses a method for establishing communication links between vehicles, wherein a license plate server is provided as a network-specific device of the exchange of the network operator and the vehicle license plate is transmitted as a constituent part of a service-specific telephone number of the network operator to the license plate server.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a method by which the establishment of a communication connection, independently of the type of public or private communication network, preferably by means of a mobile Internet connection, to a vehicle or vehicle part (eg a truck trailer, Caravan) associated communication device can be realized, although the phone number of the telecommunication terminal of the is unknown, wherein a message transmission is possible even if a direct communication link to the subscriber should not succeed.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims 2 to 7.

A central feature of the present invention is the inclusion of an Internet server device that can be accessed via a mobile Internet connection, e.g. In particular by means of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System), HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution) or WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and which can be controlled by means of input and selection control devices (connection control) of a mobile communication terminal, preferably by means of an internet-enabled mobile telephone (eg so-called "smartphones") Internet server device on vehicle registration register has, each associated with at least one mailbox for messages (eg SMS, instant message, email) and a phone number or Internet address of an associated telecommunications device of the vehicle license plate holder, which in a contact request to a vehicle license plate a message or the request automatically stores in the associated message mailbox and automatically checks whether the requested vehicle registration number is stored in the register and a corresponding to this vehicle registration number or Internet address is stored, so that in the event that the vehicle license holder permits (eg. B. by appropriate release or activation), a user-controlled connection setup using the number assigned to the number plate to the associated telecommunication terminal of the vehicle license holder is possible. If the vehicle license holder limited in time or in principle does not want a direct telecommunications connection to other participants because he z. B. would like to be called during a car ride, the messages (ie messages or request messages) are stored in the personally assigned mailbox and are retrievable by him at a later date or can be transmitted to him immediately as a text message or sign message to his telecommunications terminal and can possibly displayed in the display of the vehicle. In this respect, the method according to the invention allows, in addition to the indirect exchange of messages and information, also the direct communication via mobile Internet connections.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the telecommunication device associated with the telecommunications terminal can be implemented in a device, for. B. a mobile phone.

According to the invention, said mailbox is set up on the Internet server or on a data processing device connected to the Internet server. Alternatively, the said mailbox may, if appropriate, be set up in the second communication device or the telecommunication terminal device associated with the second communication device.

The advantage of the method according to the invention lies not only in the fact that it is possible for the subscriber of a communication network to establish a connection to another subscriber of the same or another communication network, although the first subscriber knows neither name nor telephone number of the other subscriber but also the option the direct messaging allowed when z. B. a direct voice communication is not possible. Such messages can be z. B. directly as text messages by e-mail, instant messaging, SMS or possibly blogging or microblogging forward to the participants, so that important messages (danger messages o. Ä.) Can reach quickly. Prerequisite for a successful contact is simply that the calling party (participants 2 ) is registered in the vehicle identifier register of the server device.

Compared to the known communication systems, the method according to the invention also offers the advantage that the subscriber to be called (subscriber 2 ) receives the message even if a direct contact via voice (telephony) is not desired or possible, because all messages and request messages are stored in a memory unit individually assigned to him for a specified period of time and are retrievable by him at any time. Thus, it is possible for him to retrieve the messages addressed to him at a later date, even if the instant messaging was not possible. It can thus also reach him a message when the caller (subscriber 1 ) has made no further attempt to contact.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the character string of the vehicle registration number of the subscriber 2 be detected and detected by a camera, so that a manual or voice-controlled input of the string is not is required. This camera may, for example, be the camera of the telecommunication terminal of the subscriber 1 act or in the vehicle of the participant 1 located camera for data exchange with the telecommunications terminal of the subscriber 1 z. B. is suitable by wireless data transmission. Optionally, the camera or an adjunct connected thereto is provided with pattern recognition software capable of converting the image data captured by the camera into an (e.g., alphanumeric) character string.

The inventive method can in principle be used in any means of transport, for example in aviation, shipping, rail vehicles, trucks, cars, buses, taxis, etc., so that a general accessibility of the driver is achieved, if the vehicles or facilities concerned have a corresponding individual marking. For special applications, the method according to the invention can also be combined with additional authorization procedures for the production of the connection if, for example, trailers, caravans, railway carriages, containers or the like can be addressed via a corresponding procedure.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the message from the server device, in particular z. B. in the case of an important hazard or warning message not to a specific vehicle license holder, but to all willing participants in a defined radius, preferably within a radius of 100 m to 10 km (for example in a radius of 100 m, 500 m, 1 km , 2 km or 5 km) of the telecommunication terminal of the subscriber 1 and / or the participant 2 be forwarded, provided that the mobile telecommunication terminal equipment of these participants have appropriate detection facilities (eg, by means of GPS and appropriate release by the respective participant) and are unlocked.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of examples which relate to possible embodiments and in no way limit the subject matter of the invention.

example 1

According to Example 1, the participant wants 1 a mobile network, the driver of the vehicle with the license plate A-BC 1234 (participants 2 ), although neither the name nor the phone number of the driver is known to him.

This is provided by participants 1 initially with his mobile phone connect to the Internet ago, where he, for example, to initiate a software program ("App") starts, which allows him with a few keyboard shortcuts or by means of quick selection key or by voice command input to a vehicle license plate server 4 establish a secure connection (eg to SSL standard) via the Internet. For this purpose, the vehicle identifier server 4 be executed as a separate hardware device or as a software module.

Of the participants 1 gives the string in the example 3 of the license plate "A-BC 1234" of the motor vehicle as a request (request message) to the vehicle license plate server 4 via the hands-free and speech recognition of his vehicle to his mobile phone. This string 3 is sent to the vehicle license plate server 4 then automatically checks whether this string in the license plate or in the license plate register 10 of the vehicle registration server 4 is present as a reference entry. If this is the case, from the respectively assigned phone number register, the assigned phone number 6 (eg "0172 123 456 789) or the Internet address 7 taken from the associated communication device and the phone number 6 to the subscriber's mobile phone 1 transmitted and displayed there. The construction of the connection to the driver of the truck (participants 2 ) is not automatic, but the connection can not be made until after in the display of the mobile phone of participants 1 the phone number 6 of the participant 2 was displayed and participants 1 this is confirmed by a command. Then the subscriber's mobile phone dials 1 the phone number 6 of the participant 2 at. Has participants 2 the ability to call him directly disabled, so directed to him text or voice message is stored in his personal mailbox and optionally supplied to him as a text or voice message so that it is readable for example on the display of the instrument panel of the vehicle.

The assigned communication device can be any communication terminal, for example the driver's mobile phone, the landline connection of a control center or company headquarters, an automatic receiving device / modem within a machine or a database device etc.

Example 2

In a further example, if an optional authentication method, for example by means of corresponding secret codes, is used, optionally different assigned call numbers can be added to a number plate in the vehicle number register 10 be registered. For example In this case, when entering the code associated with a number, the caller does not directly reach the vehicle driver but the company headquarters assigned to the vehicle.

Database 9 of the vehicle registration server 4 includes in this case next to the actual vehicle registration register 10 , an authorization register 11 , a password register 12 , Register for the phone numbers assigned to the license plate 13 and registers for the mailbox addresses associated with the tags 14 , In the case of non-specific authorized access, participants receive 1 in the example at registration input "A-BC 333" as a reply the phone number 0172 123 456 789 notified. If the caller has the password 1234, then the call number 0172 123 456 788 is transmitted to him, he has the alternative password 1111, he will be the phone number (030) 12345678 notified. Thus, the caller can optionally be given telephone numbers or email addresses of a company headquarters or other service points of the company concerned.

In addition, by the service operator and possibly by the participant, the following (basic) settings concerning the participant can be made or adjusted or changed, wherein, for example, activation or deactivation of a "blacklist", ie. H. Numbers or subscribers to whom the communication is to be blocked (possibly for a limited time), d. H. Messages from these subscribers should not be forwarded and / or numbers should not be transmitted to them; Activation or deactivation of a "Whitelist", d. H. Numbers or subscribers for which communication (possibly limited in time) is to be exclusively released, d. H. it should only be possible to receive messages and / or the transmission of telephone numbers from these subscribers; Selection of menus with preformulated short messages, symbols or characters (eg emoticons, etc.) for more comfortable use with frequently occurring communication patterns; Activation or deactivation of answer or callback buttons; time-limited or permanent activation or deactivation of password protection, telephone number suppression, parental control, call number transmission or messaging etc.

The administration (entry and maintenance of user data) of the vehicle-specific register entries as well as the information on the type of use can be made via an administration terminal 5 on the part of the service provider of the vehicle identifier server 4 or after registration and identification of the participant in question at least partially by the participant itself, preferably by secure data transfer.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Participant 1

2

Participant 2

3

string

4

Vehicle registration server

5

Administration terminal

6

telephone number

7

Internet address

8th

Connection control (input and selection control)

9

Database

10

Vehicle registration register

11

permissions tab

12

Password Register

13

call register

14

PO Box address register

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 19704085 A1 [0003]
• US 5668880A [0004]
• DE 3786101 T2 [0005]
• EP 0238257 B1 [0005]
• DE 199341345 C2 [0006]

Claims (7)

A method for establishing a communication connection between a first mobile communication terminal and at least one second communication device, characterized in that the first mobile communication terminal establishes a connection to an Internet server by means of a user-controlled dial-up control device, which is via vehicle identifier registers 10 Each has a mailbox and at least one phone number 6 or internet address 7 associated with a second communication device associated telecommunications terminal; the first mobile communication terminal by means of a user-controlled connection control device, a message or request message relating to a vehicle license plate using a substantially numeric or alphanumeric string 3 transfers to the Internet server; the Internet server automatically deposits the message or request message in the mailbox associated with the requested vehicle license plate and automatically checks whether there is a reference entry for a telephone number for the requested vehicle license plate number 6 or internet address 7 the telecommunication terminal device belonging to the second communication device is present and enabled, and in such a case the one in the vehicle license plate register 10 deposited one or more phone numbers 6 or internet address 7 to the requested identifier is communicated to the first mobile communication terminal and the first mobile communication terminal, upon confirmation by the user-led connection control apparatus, is adapted to establish a connection to the telecommunication terminal associated with the second communication apparatus. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that digital signals are transmitted for establishing the communication connection. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the signals are transmitted encrypted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the substantially numeric or alphanumeric string 3 can be identified by a camera and automatically transmitted by the connection control device. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the connection control devices of the communication (end) facilities by voice input is controlled and / or the message output is by voice. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server device provides for user authentication which only permits the issuing of register entries of the vehicle identifier server after the authorized user has been identified. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the server device a message to all participants willing to receive in a predetermined radius, preferably within a radius of 100 m to 10 km of the telecommunication terminal of the subscriber 1 forwards.