Launching a designated application using a set of signals

• US 10,404,849 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced New Technologies Company Limited (Ant Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Meng, Chaofeng, Chen, Xiaowei, Chen, Lingyun, Zhu, Feng, Xu, Ji
• Primary Examiner(s): Bataille, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US15/195,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/353 where the information comprises non-audio but is provided over voice channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/56 including a user help function
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

Exchanging information via a designated application includes establishing a voice communication link with a client device; sending a launch command associated with a designated application to the client device via the voice communication link, wherein upon receiving the launch command, the client device is caused to launch the designated application; and exchanging information with the client device through the designated application.

Claims

1. A server, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive from a client device a request to establish a voice communication link associated with a specified service, wherein a designated application corresponding to the specified service is installed on the client device, and wherein the designated application is a special-purpose application configured to provide the specified service;

in response to the request, establish the voice communication link with the client device;

identify a launch command associated with the designated application to be executed on the client device;

translate the launch command associated with the designated application into a set of audio-based signals;

transmit the set of audio-based signals over the voice communication link to the client device for the client device to, upon receiving the set of audio-based signals;

translate the set of audio-based signals into a set of values;

determine that the set of values corresponds to the designated application; and

launch the designated application on the client device; and

exchange information with the client device through the designated application, including by receiving at least a portion of the information, from the client device, over a data link that is different from the voice communication link; and

one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors and configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the set of audio-based signals comprises one or more dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the client device translates the set of audio-based signals into the set of values by comparing the set of audio-based signals to stored data indicating correspondences between a plurality of audio-based signals and a plurality of values to determine the set of values.

15. The server of claim 1, wherein the voice communication link is configured to transmit one or more audio-based signals between the server and the client device.

17. The server of claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more processors and the client device is configured to determine that the voice communication link should be ended and the data link should be used instead.

4. A method, comprising:

receiving from a client device a request to establish a voice communication link associated with a specified service, wherein a designated application corresponding to the specified service is installed on the client device, and wherein the designated application is a special-purpose application configured to provide the specified service;

in response to the request, establishing the voice communication link with the client device;

identifying a launch command associated with the designated application to be executed on the client device;

translating the launch command associated with the designated application into a set of audio-based signals;

transmitting the set of audio-based signals over the voice communication link to the client device for the client device to, upon receiving the set of audio-based signals;

translate the set of audio-based signals into a set of values;

determine that the set of values corresponds to the designated application; and

launch the designated application on the client device; and

exchanging information with the client device through the designated application, including by receiving at least a portion of the information, from the client device, over a data link that is different from the voice communication link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the set of audio-based signals comprises one or more dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the client device translates the set of audio-based signals into the set of values by comparing the set of audio-based signals to stored data indicating correspondences between a plurality of audio-based signals and a plurality of values to determine the set of values.

7. A device, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

send to a server a request to establish a voice communication link associated with a specified service, wherein a designated application corresponding to the specified service is installed on the device, and wherein the designated application is a special-purpose application configured to provide the specified service;

establish the voice communication link with the server;

receive a set of audio-based signals associated with a launch command at the device, wherein the set of audio-based signals is transmitted over the voice communication link, wherein the launch command is identified by the server as associated with the designated application to be executed on the device;

in response to the receipt of the set of audio-based signals;

translate the set of audio-based signals into a set of values;

determine that the set of values corresponds to the designated application; and

launch the designated application on the device; and

exchange information with the server through the designated application, including by transmitting at least a portion of the information to the server over a data link that is different from the voice communication link; and

one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors and configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the set of audio-based signals comprises one or more dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, in response to the receipt of the set of audio-based signals, translate the set of audio-based signals into the set of values by comparing the set of audio-based signals to stored data indicating correspondences between a plurality of audio-based signals and a plurality of values to determine the set of values.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein to exchange information with the server through the designated application includes to:

receive input information via one or more input areas associated with a user interface of the designated application; and

convert the input information into one or more signals prior to sending the one or more signals to the server.

16. The device of claim 7, wherein the voice communication link is configured to transmit one or more audio-based signals between the server and the device.

11. A method, comprising:

sending from a client device to a server a request to establish a voice communication link associated with a specified service, wherein the client device has installed a designated application corresponding to the specified service, and wherein the designated application is a special-purpose application configured to provide the specified service;

establishing the voice communication link with the server;

receiving a set of audio-based signals associated with a launch command at a device, wherein the set of audio-based signals is transmitted over the voice communication link, wherein the launch command is identified by the server as associated with the designated application to be executed on the client device;

in response to the receipt of the set of audio-based signals;

translating the set of audio-based signals into a set of values;

determining that the set of values corresponds to the designated application; and

launching the designated application on the client device; and

exchanging information with the server through the designated application, including by transmitting at least a portion of the information, to the server, over a data link that is different from the voice communication link.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of audio-based signals comprises one or more dual-tone multi-frequency signals.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising, in response to the receipt of the set of audio-based signals, translating the set of audio-based signals into the set of values by comparing the set of audio-based signals to stored data indicating correspondences between a plurality of audio-based signals and a plurality of values to determine the set of values.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein exchanging information with the server through the designated application includes:

receiving input information via one or more input areas associated with a user interface of the designated application; and

converting the input information into one or more signals prior to sending the one or more signals to the server.

18. A server, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive from a client device a request to establish a voice communication link associated with a specified service, wherein a designated application corresponding to the specified service is installed on the client device, and wherein the designated application is a special-purpose application configured to provide the specified service;

in response to the request, establish the voice communication link with the client device;

identify a launch command associated with the designated application to be executed on the client device;

translate the launch command associated with the designated application into a set of audio-based signals;

transmit the set of audio-based signals over the voice communication link to the client device for the client device to, upon receiving the set of audio-based signals;

translate the set of audio-based signals into a set of values;

determine that the set of values corresponds to the designated application; and

launch the designated application on the client device;

exchange information with the client device through the designated application; and

transmit an additional command to the client device for causing different prompts to be displayed at a user interface of the designated application; and

one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors and configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit an additional command to the client device for causing the client device to launch an additional designated application.