Patent ID: 7769377
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of providing an arbitrary sound to replace a conventional tone in a communication network, comprising: a first step, conducted by an HLR (Home Location Register), of furnishing a call-receiving exchanger, when a location of a call-receiving terminal is registered through the call-receiving exchanger and before a call-sending is attempted from a call-sending terminal to the call-receiving terminal, with first information on whether an ordinary tone is to be replaced or not and second information informing a route to a sound providing means; a second step, conducted by the call-receiving exchanger, of requesting a first trunk connection to the sound providing means, if the call-receiving terminal is called by a second-in-time call-sending terminal under already-connected condition to a first-in-time terminal, based on the first and the second information while providing the sound providing means with third information on call state; a third step, conducted by the sound providing means, of determining a tone-replacing sound based on the received third information for the call-receiving terminal, and providing the determined tone-replacing sound as a ringback tone to the second-in-time call-sending terminal-through the call-receiving exchanger; a fourth step, conducted by the call-receiving exchanger, of requesting release of the first trunk connection to the sound providing means, if the call-receiving terminal accepts the call from the second-in-time call-sending terminal, and requesting a second trunk connection to the sound providing means for the connected first-in-time terminal while providing the sound providing means with fourth information on call-switched; and a fifth step, conducted by the sound providing means, of determining a tone-replacing sound based on the received fourth information for the call-receiving terminal, and providing the determined tone-replacing sound as a call-waiting tone to the first-in-time terminal through the call-receiving exchanger which the second trunk connection is made to; wherein the sound providing means determines the tone-replacing sound based on an identity associated with the call-sending terminal, which group the call-sending terminal belongs to among several groups classified by a user of the call-receiving terminal, and/or calling time.