Ring tone selected by calling party of third party played to called party

A ring tone is played to a called party for a call that meets one or more criteria. The ring tone is remotely selected by a calling party or a third party.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to communications and more particularly to ring tones.

BACKGROUND

Phones often play an audible sound upon receipt of an incoming call. For example, the phone may play a ring tone to a user of the phone to indicate the presence of the incoming call. In mobile phones, the ring tone is a computer program stored in the memory of the mobile phone. The ring tone indicates what audible sound the speaker system of the phone should play when the phone receives an incoming call. Ring tone capable phones have a range of notes stored in memory. The ring tone indicates which of these notes to play to achieve the desired audible sound. Different ring tones produce different audible sounds by adjusting the order, speed, and number of the notes.

Mobile phones are often delivered to a user with a limited number of ring tones stored in memory. Additional ring tones may be downloaded by the user of the mobile phone to personalize the ringing sound of the phone. In one example, the user of the mobile phone may type in the program code of the additional ring tone into the phone using the keypad. In another example, the user of the mobile phone may order the additional ring tone from a website that sends the ring tone to the phone over the airwaves. For example, the ring tone is sent in a message to the mobile phone, such as in a short message service message, an enhanced messaging service message, or a multimedia messaging service message.

The user of the mobile phone installs the ring tone onto the phone for subsequent use for incoming calls. The user of the mobile phone authorizes the phone to use the ring tone. For example, the user of the mobile phone must authorize and assign the ring tone for the ring tone to be eligible for active use by the phone. As one shortcoming, the user of the called mobile phone has exclusive control over the ring tones played over the speaker of the phone for incoming calls.

In addition to being played over a speaker to the called party for incoming calls, customized audible sounds may be played in a voice path to the calling party. A ringback tone service allows a called party to preselect a ringback tone to be played in the earpiece of the calling party phone. Traditionally, the calling party would hear a standard ringing sound before the called party answers the call. The ringback tone service replaces that standard ringing sound with a ringback tone selected by the called party. For example, the ringback tone service allows the user of the called communication device to customize the ringing sound that the calling party hears while calling the called party. As one shortcoming, the ringback tone service does not play customized ring tones to the called party.

Thus, a need exists for enhanced control of ring tones played to a called party for incoming calls.

SUMMARY

The invention in one implementation encompasses a method. A ring tone is played to a called party for a call that meets one or more criteria. The ring tone is remotely selected by a calling party or a third party.

Another implementation of the invention encompasses a apparatus. The apparatus comprises a ring tone server that receives an indication that a calling party or a third party has selected a ring tone for a call, to a called party, that meets one or more criteria. The ring tone server plays the ring tone to the called party for the call that meets the one or more criteria.

Yet another implementation of the invention encompasses an article. The article comprises one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media, and means in the one or more media for playing a ring tone to a called party for a call that meets one or more criteria. The ring tone is remotely selected by a calling party or a third party.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning toFIG. 1, an apparatus100in one example comprises one or more ring tone servers102, one or more ring tone databases104, one or more mobile switching centers (“MSCs”)106, one or more web servers108, one or more input devices110, and one or more called parties112. The apparatus100illustrates a ring tone selection service. The ring tone selection service allows a calling party or a third party to select a ring tone for a called party. The apparatus100in one example further comprises a billing server114to maintain billing records. The ring tone server102sends billing reports incurred by users of the ring tone selection service to the billing server114.

The ring tone server102plays a ring tone to the called party112for a call that meets one or more criteria. The ring tone and the criteria are remotely selected by a calling party or a third party. The calling party or the third party remotely selects the ring tone by using a device that is separate from the called party phone to select a ring tone to be played by the called party phone. For example, the calling party or the third party employs one of the input devices110to enter the ring tone selection and the criteria. The called party112in one example is unaware that the calling party or the third party has selected a ring tone for the called party112. The ring tone server102comprises an instance of a recordable data storage medium150, as described herein.

The ring tone database104stores ring tones for use by the ring tone server102. The ring tone server102accesses the ring tone database104to acquire ring tones to play to the called party112. The ring tone database104may organize the ring tones by category, type, rating, or the like. In addition to ring tones, the ring tone database may store music and/or recorded voice. For example, a user may create a personal audio recording, such as a spoken message, to be played to the called party112as the ring tone for an incoming call.

The mobile switching center (“MSC”)106supports mobile phones, such as the called party112. The mobile switching center106connects incoming calls to the called party112. The mobile switching center106couples the ring tone server102with the called party112. The mobile switching center106in one example comprises a push-to-talk server116. The ring tone server102in one example employs the push-to-talk server116to establish a push-to-talk session with the called party112. The ring tone server102plays calling party or third party selected ring tones over the push-to-talk session to the called party112.

The web server108couples the input devices110with the ring tone server102. The input devices110may comprise mobile phones, landline phones, computers (“PC”), personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), and the like. Users employ the input devices110to set up the ring tone selection service. For example, the users select a ring tone and enter the criteria used by the ring tone server102to determine when to play the ring tone.

In one example, the users access a website to enter the ring tone selection and the trigger criteria. In another example, the web server108presents an Internet based application to the input devices110to allow the users to enter the ring tone selection and the trigger criteria. In yet another example, the input devices110connect with a touch tone or voice recognition system to enter the ring tone selection and the trigger criteria.

In addition to the ring tone selection and the trigger criteria, the users of the input devices110enter calling party information, called party information, and billing information. The ring tone server102sends a billing report to the billing server114to charge the user that selected the ring tone. In addition to selection of a ring tone for an individual called party, users may select a ring tone for an entire group. One ring tone may be selected for all incoming calls to phones associated with a corporation. For example, the ring tone may be set to a corporate jingle. Another option for the ring tone selection service is for the ring tone server102to send an identity verification request to the calling party before playing the selected ring tone to the called party112. The ring tone server102waits for confirmation of the identity verification request before playing the ring tone to the called party112. The verification request serves to prevent a third party from setting up a vindictive or offensive ring tone for a call from a calling party that does not authorize the ring tone. The verification request gives the calling party the opportunity to cancel the selected ring tone if desired.

The called party112comprises a called communication device and a user of that called communication device. The called communication device is capable of connecting to a telecommunication network and receiving a ring tone. For example, the called communication device may comprise a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (“PDA”), wireless of wired voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) phone, wireless-fidelity (“Wi-Fi”) phone, or the like. An exemplary implementation of the called communication device as a mobile phone is illustrated herein. Other called communication devices may also be employed, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In one example, the ring tone server102sends the ring tone to the called party112in a data message. For example, the called communication device is capable of receiving data messages, such as short message service messages, enhanced messaging service messages, multimedia messaging service messages, Java application messages, or the like. The called communication device also comprises a buffer, temporary storage, or permanent storage capable of storing the ring tone. The ring tone server102transfers a copy of the ring tone from the ring tone database104to the called communication device. The called communication device stores the ring tone and waits for an incoming call that meets the criteria, set by the party that selected the ring tone, which triggers the called communication device to play the ring tone for the call. The called communication device comprises internal logic to compare characteristics of the incoming calls to the criteria set by the set by the party that selected the ring tone. For example, the criteria may indicate to play a calling party selected ring tone for an incoming call from a certain calling party number. If an incoming call is from that calling party number, the called communication device plays the calling party selected ring tone in place of the called party selected ring tone. If an incoming call is from a different calling party number, the called communication device plays the called party selected ring tone.

In another example, the ring tone server102plays the ring tone for a call to the called party112over a push-to-talk session. For example, the called communication device is capable of supporting push-to-talk sessions. Before connecting the call to the called party112, the ring tone sever102establishes a push-to-talk session with the called party112. The ring tone server102in one example streams a calling party selected ring tone to the user of the called communication device over the push-to-talk session. Where the ring tone server102plays the ring tone over the push-to-talk session, the called communication device does not require internal logic to determine when to play the calling party selected ring tone, or storage for the ring tone. The logic to determine when to play the ring tone is in the ring tone server102, and the ring tone database104stores the ring tone.

Turning toFIG. 2, an illustrative description of an exemplary operation of the apparatus100is presented, for explanatory purposes. A message flow202illustrates a selection of a ring tone by a calling party204for a call to the called party112that meets one or more criteria. For example, the message flow202illustrates a ring tone selection service. The message flow202further illustrates playing the ring tone to the called party112for the call. The calling party204in one example comprises one of the input devices110(FIG. 1), such as a mobile phone.

To set up the ring tone selection service, the calling party204initiates a call206to the ring tone server102. Upon receipt of the call206, the ring tone server102sends an answer message208back to the calling party204. After sending the answer message208, the ring tone server102plays a menu210to the calling party204. In one example, the menu210comprises a audible announcement that prompts the calling party204to respond with input212by pressing touch tone keys or providing voice response. The ring tone server102comprises touch tone recognition or voice recognition capabilities to interpret the input212from the calling party204. In another example, the calling party204comprises an internet capable phone with a display screen, and the menu210is displayed on the display screen of the phone. For example, the menu210comprises an internet based ring tone provisioning application.

The menu210in one example provides the calling party204with a list of ring tones available for selection and a list of triggering options. The calling party204selects a ring tone from the list of available ring tones. The menu210also requests the calling party204to select one or more of the triggering options. The calling party204inputs one or more criteria to indicate the selected triggering options. The ring tone server102employs the one or more criteria to determine when to play the selected ring tone to the called party112. For example, the one or more criteria may comprise an indication to play the ring tone for a call at a certain time, or for a call from a certain calling party number.

The calling party204sends an indication of the selected ring tone and the one or more criteria to the ring tone server102as the input212. The called party112also includes calling information in the input212, such as the calling party number and the called party number. Additionally, the called party112enters billing information for use in funding the ring tone selection service transaction. After receipt of the input212, the ring tone server102sends an acknowledgement message214to the calling party204to confirm the transaction.

The ring tone server102in one example charges a fee for the ring tone selection service. The ring tone server102sends a charge message216to the billing server114to charge the calling party204a fee for selection of the ring tone to be played to the called party112. The calling party204in one example may select to apply the ring tone to a single call to the called party112, a plurality of calls to the called party112, all calls to the called party112, calls to a group of called parties, or all calls to all called parties. For example, different ring tone selection options may have different costs.

After the calling party204has selected the ring tone for the call and the one or more criteria that indicate when to play the ring tone, the ring tone server102waits until the one or more criteria are met to trigger the ring tone service. In one example, the one or more criteria indicate for the ring tone server102to trigger the ring tone service for a call from a specific calling party number, such as the number of the calling party204. The ring tone server102waits for a call from that calling party number. Upon receipt of the call from the calling party204, the ring tone server102plays the ring tone to the called party112and extends the call to the called party112. In another example, the one or more criteria indicate for the ring tone server102to trigger the ring tone service at a specific time chosen by the calling party204. At the time chosen by the calling party204, the ring tone server102employs a back call218to establish a connection with the calling party204. The ring tone server102extends the call to the called party112, and delivers220the ring tone to the called party112. The calling party204sends an answer message224to the ring tone server102to accept the call. The called party112sends an answer message226to the ring tone server102to accept the call. Then, the ring tone server102connects the call between the calling party204and the called party112to establish voice communication.

In one example, the ring tone delivery220to the called party112is over a push-to-talk session. For example, before extending the call to the called party112, the ring tone server102establishes a push-to-talk session with the called party112and streams the ring tone to the called party112during the push-to-talk session. After the ring tone is finished or the call is answered by the called party112, the ring tone server102ends the push-to-talk session and transitions to a voice conversation. For example, the ring tone server102waits for the ring tone to be finished or the call to be answered before connecting the voice call to the called party112. Upon completion of the ring tone in the push-to-talk session, the ring tone server102sends one or more call setup messages to the called party112to establish the voice conversation between the called party112and the calling party204. The ring tone server102in one example suppresses the standard push-to-talk session beeps while playing the ring tone in the push-to-talk session. The ring tone server102may also suppress the normal ring tone chosen by the called party112for incoming calls because the ring tone selected by the called party112has already been played in the push-to-talk session.

In another example, the ring tone delivery220to the called party112is accomplished by sending the ring tone to the phone used by the called party112. For example, the ring tone server102may send the ring tone and the one or more trigger criteria to the phone in a short message service message, an enhanced messaging service message, a multimedia messaging service message, a Java application, or the like. The phone accepts the ring tone in a buffer or stores the ring tone in available memory. After the ring tone is transferred to the phone, the phone will not use the ring tone until receipt of a call that meets the trigger criteria set by the calling party204for the ring tone. Upon receipt of the call that meets the trigger criteria, the phone will play the calling party selected ring tone instead of the called party selected ring tone.

After playing the selected ring tone to the called party112, the ring tone server102in one example sends an offer228to the called party112. The offer228presents the option for the called party112to keep the ring tone played for the call. For example, the ring tone server102in one example sends the offer228to the called party112after the single use of the ring tone for the call. The called party112has the option to purchase the ring tone for additional use. The called party112may select to keep the ring tone for a day, a week, forever, based on a number of uses, or the like. The called party212in one example sends a response230to the offer228. If the response230indicates that the called party112does not want to purchase the ring tone, then the ring tone server102deletes the ring tone from the phone of the called party112. For example, the ring tone server102may send a message to the phone to clear the buffer or memory that was used to store the ring tone. If the response230indicates that the called party112wants to purchases the ring tone, the ring tone server102sends a charge message232to the billing server114to charge the called party112a fee for keeping the ring tone for additional use. Alternatively, the ring tone server102may charge the calling party204for the additional use of the ring tone by the called party112. For example, the calling party204may purchase the ring tone as a gift to the called party112. After charging the called party112or the calling party204for the ring tone, the ring tone server102releases the ring tone for the additional use by called party112. For example, the ring tone is transferred from temporary storage on the phone to a permanent storage, such as in flash memory or on a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) card.

Turning toFIG. 3, a message flow302represents an exemplary call to the called party112, where the called party112does not answer the call. The message flow302begins after the attempted ring tone delivery220ofFIG. 2. The message flow302illustrates a connection to voicemail after determining that the called party112did not answer the call. Once the called party112does not answer the call within an allotted time period, the voicemail system sends an answer message304to the ring tone server102. The answer message304indicates that the voicemail system is handling the call. The ring tone server102plays the recorded name306of the party that selected the ring tone (e.g., the calling party204) in a voicemail message. The ring tone server102also includes in the message an offer308to acquire the ring tone selected by the calling party204for subsequent use. The called party112in one example sends a response310to the offer308. If the response310indicates that the called party112wants to purchases the ring tone for subsequent use, the ring tone server102sends a charge message312to the billing server114to charge the called party112or the calling party204a fee for keeping the ring tone for additional use. The ring tone server102then releases the ring tone for the use by called party112.

The apparatus100in one example comprises a plurality of components such as one or more of electronic components, hardware components, and computer software components. A number of such components can be combined or divided in the apparatus100. An exemplary component of the apparatus100employs and/or comprises a set and/or series of computer instructions written in or implemented with any of a number of programming languages, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The apparatus100in one example comprises any (e.g., horizontal, oblique, or vertical) orientation, with the description and figures herein illustrating one exemplary orientation of the apparatus100, for explanatory purposes.

The apparatus100in one example employs one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media. The computer-readable signal-bearing media store software, firmware and/or assembly language for performing one or more portions of one or more embodiments of the invention. Examples of a computer-readable signal-bearing medium for the apparatus100comprise the recordable data storage medium150of the ring tone server102. The computer-readable signal-bearing medium for the apparatus100in one example comprise one or more of a magnetic, electrical, optical, biological, and atomic data storage medium. For example, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium comprise floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disk drives, and electronic memory. In another example, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium comprises a modulated carrier signal transmitted over a network comprising or coupled with the apparatus100, for instance, one or more of a telephone network, a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), the Internet, and a wireless network.

The steps or operations described herein are just exemplary. There may be many variations to these steps or operations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified.