Computerized Method and System for Interactively Simulating Telecommunications Services

This invention relates to computerized methods and systems for interactively simulating telecommunications services.

Current and potential subscribers of telecommunications services, such as voice messaging services, call forwarding services, etc., often have difficulty understanding and learning how to use and configure the features of those services and, therefore, maximize their potential benefits. Textual descriptions of the features are usually inadequate for many people. Trialing of actual services coupled with coaching from a human expert on how to use them is logistically difficult and cost prohibitive for the service providers.

Thus, there exists a need for an interactive simulation of various telecommunications services that enables subscribers to easily learn about, practice using, and initiate and configure the services in a cost-effective manner.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a computerized method and system for interactively simulating telecommunications services.

In carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a computerized method is provided for interactively simulating a plurality of telecommunications services to a user. The method includes the step of sending a first message over a data network to a server. The method also includes the step of displaying a screen to the user in response to the first message wherein the screen allows the user to select any one of a plurality of telecommunications services for simulation. Upon sending a second message to the server indicating selection of one of the plurality of telecommunications services, a selected simulation program is sent by the server.

In further carrying out the above object and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, a system is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described method. The system includes a client computer for sending a first message. The system also includes a display coupled to the client computer for displaying a first screen based on the simulation program wherein the first screen allows the user to select any one of the plurality of telecommunications services for simulation. The client computer is also provided for sending a second message to the server computer indicating selection of one of the plurality of telecommunications services and receiving a selected simulation program in response to the second message, the selected simulation program representative of the selected one of the plurality of telecommunications services.

The above object and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the system of the present invention;

FIGS. 2a-2c are flow diagrams illustrating the general sequence of steps associated with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary image of an initial menu screen display;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary image of a main usage menu screen display associated with the voice messaging service simulation;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary image of a personal options screen display;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary image of a guided practice screen display;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary image of an administrative options screen display;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary image of a security code simulation display;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary image of a second security code simulation display;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary image of a third security code simulation display;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary image of a fourth security code simulation display;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary image of an out-call notification simulation display; and

FIG. 13 is an exemplary image of a second out-call notification simulation display.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of the system of the present invention, denoted generally by reference numeral 10. The system 10 includes a server 12 and at least one client 14 attached to a data network. Each client 14 is a data processing interface, such as a personal computer.

Although capable of being deployed on many data networks, currently the best way to provide interactive telecommunication simulations is via the Internet and the World Wide Web (Web). In a Web-based deployment, the user executes a Web browser on their computer (client 14) and chooses a simulation to interact with via a page displayed by the Web browser. The corresponding Web server then provides the simulation program in the form of a Java applet (TM Sun Microsystems), or other interactive, Web-based application types such as a Shockwave application (TM MacroMedia), an ActiveX Control application (TM Microsoft), or a VRML World (TM Silicon Graphics). The Web browser executing on the client 14, in turn, executes the downloaded simulation program, also on the client 14. The simulation program provides a user interface (screens) that allow the user to interact with the simulation as if he or she had subscribed to the actual service. The simulation program also provides assistance to the user both in using the service and in configuring their simulated and actual service (if the user has subscribed to the actual service). In addition to supplying the simulation program for downloading, the Web server executes additional programs that can communicate with the simulation program.

Turning now to FIGS. 2a-2c, there are shown flow diagrams illustrating the general sequence of steps associated with interactively simulating any one of a plurality of telecommunications services offered by a service provider. The possible telecommunications services offered may include voice messaging, three-way calling, call waiting, call forwarding, speed dialing/calling, etc. First, the user browses to a Web page containing the menu of service simulations and selects one of the available simulations, as shown at blocks 20 and 21, respectively.

The server 12 sends the selected simulation to the user/client 14 for downloading to the user's browser which then displays an appropriate device simulation graphic and plays an appropriate introductory audio, if any, as shown at blocks 22 and 23, respectively. For example, if the user selects the voice messaging simulation, then the downloaded program initially displays the screen shown in FIG. 3 which includes a telephone keypad 16, a panel 17 for displaying the user's mailbox configuration information and a display panel 18 for displaying prompts. The prompts are similar to the kind of prompts that a user would hear if he or she were using the actual telecommunications service and are verbal (which can be turned off by the user) and displayed in text. The prompts tell the user what his or her options are at any given point in time. The simulation can provide help to the user in understanding the prompts.

Continuing with the voice messaging interaction, after successfully specifying a previously used, or creating a new simulated mailbox, the user is shown the "main menu" screen as depicted in FIG. 4. For illustration purposes, let us now assume that the user wishes to change their mailbox security code. If the user knows that the first step in this task is to select the "change Personal Options" menu item then he or she does so by clicking the "4" key on the keypad 16 and the simulation responds with the screen shown in FIG. 5. If the user does not know which menu item to choose, he can ask for assistance, or if he is using a simulation in a "Guided Practice mode", the simulation indicates that the next step in the task is to select "change Personal Options" as shown in FIG. 6. The user's choice of an option and corresponding keypad input selection is represented at block 24 in FIG. 2.

If the user action is a request for assistance, conditional block 25, the simulation provides the appropriate assistance, block 26. If the user action is not a request for assistance, and the user is in the "guided-practice" mode, conditional block 27, a determination is made as to whether the user action is appropriate, as shown at conditional block 28. If not, the simulation coaches the user according to the appropriate action, as shown at block 29. However, if the action is appropriate, the simulation responds to the input as the actual service would, as shown at block 30.

Continuing with the illustration, the exemplar screens displayed by the simulation in response to the user's actions of changing the mailbox security code and changing notification options are shown in FIGS. 7-13. For example, if the user wishes to establish or change security codes, the user presses "1", as shown in FIG. 7. At this point, the user is given the option to either "establish or change security codes" or "turn Skip Security Code on or off", as shown in FIG. 8, in response to pressing "1".

If the user pressed "1," the screen shown in FIG. 9 appears, and the user is presented with new options. If the user wishes to enter a personal security code, he/she would then press "1," and the new screen image shown in FIG. 10 appears. At this point, the user is instructed to enter a security code, followed by the "#" key. Upon pressing the "#" key, screen image shown in FIG. 11 is displayed to the user.

The security code entered by the user is displayed along with additional options available to the user. At this point, if the user wishes to continue with the simulation and simulate the option of turning notification on or off, he/she must press "1." Upon doing so, the screen image shown in FIG. 12 is displayed identifying the available options to the user. Assuming the user wishes to turn out-call notification on, he/she presses "1" as instructed by the simulation. The screen image shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, indicating to the user that he/she has turned out-call notification on.

Returning now to FIG. 2, as shown at conditional block 32, some user actions, such as saving a personalized greeting for the simulated mailbox, require the simulation program to send a message to the server. If the user action does not require communication with the server, the method continues. If communication is required then a message is sent from the simulated program (on the client 14) across the data network to the server, as shown at block 34. The server 12 saves the user-specific information and determines the appropriate action to take, as shown at block 36.

Another user action that requires communication with the server is a request to switch to another, related simulation, such as the simulation of a paging service. If the user action does require switching to a new simulation, as shown at conditional block 38, then the server uses data from the user's previous simulation use to configure the new simulation and then provides the program for downloading, as shown at block 40. The client 14 then downloads the new simulation and the user begins interacting with it, as shown at block 28.

If a new simulation is not required, the method proceeds to determine whether or not the user is requesting to configure an actual telecommunication service, as shown at conditional block 42. If not, e.g., the user is selecting to save a personal greeting, the method returns to block 28, as described above. This is because there is no user-visible action required by the server 12.

If the user action is a request to configure an actual telecommunications service (conditional block 42), the simulation can help the user do this manually and may even be able to do this automatically, depending on the service. If automatic configuration is available, conditional block 44, the user is given this option. If it is not available or if the user chooses not to use it, conditional block 56, the user may then decide if he/she wishes to view the steps needed to manually configure the actual telecommunications service to be like the simulation, as shown at conditional block 46. If the user changes his/her mind, the user may then continue with the simulation as shown at block 24.

Otherwise, a list of the steps necessary for manual configuration of the telecommunications service is provided to the user, as shown at block 48. The user may then print the list, or save it to a disk/file, for use in configuring the service at a later data, as shown at block 50. The user may then return to the simulation, conditional block 52, return to the menu of available simulations, conditional block 54, or end the program.

Returning to conditional block 44, if automatic configuration of the service is available, and the user wishes to use it, as shown at conditional block 56, then the simulation program sends a message to the server which then requests additional information from the user to insure authentication, as shown at block 58. Such information may include a personal identification number (PIN), a social security number, mother's maiden name, etc. The user would then provide the requested authentication, e.g., by filling out and submitting a Web form page, as shown at block 60. At block 62, the server then communicates with the appropriate systems to configure the user's service.

After the user has taken the necessary steps to request that the server configure their service to be the same as their simulated service, the user can either choose to return to the simulation program, conditional block 52, return to the menu of available simulations, conditional block 54, for selection of a new simulation program, or end the interaction.

The present invention provides subscribers to telecommunications services an opportunity to learn about the benefits of features of their services that they did not know how to use or of which they were not taking advantage. In addition, the invention provides potential subscribers an opportunity to learn about services and their features and thus facilitates their ordering of services due to a favorable experience using the corresponding interactive simulation.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.