System and method for customising call alerts

• US 20040223605A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redpoint Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Repoint Pty Limited
• Inventors: Donnelly, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/373.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42076 where the identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

A computerized system and method for selecting the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in a customized alter service. The method includes establishing a customized alert service configuration for a participating user, which configuration is then stored on one or more network accessible devices. The participating user uses a first communications terminal to make a call to a second communications terminal, via a first communications service, the second communication terminal then announces the call by activating an alert using a chosen alert descriptor which has been chosen according to the customized alert service configuration for the participating user.

Claims

1. A method for selecting the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in a customised alert service, the method including:

a. establishing a customised alert service configuration for a participating user, the customised alert service configuration being stored on one or more network accessible devices;

b. the participating user using a first communications terminal to make a call to a second communications terminal, the call being supported by a first communications service;

c. identifying a chosen alert descriptor from the customised alert service configuration for the participating user;

d. the second communications terminal fetching the chosen alert descriptor from a location remote from the first communications terminal and the second communications terminal; and

e. the second communications terminal announcing the call by activating an alert using the chosen alert descriptor.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the selecting and/or providing of at least one alert descriptor includes selecting an alert descriptor from a set of available alert descriptors.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the set of selectable alert descriptors is contained on a network accessible device.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated to the second communications terminal from a network accessible device.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the customised alert service operates within a network of a plurality of communications terminals and servers, wherein at least some of the communications terminals and servers participate in a caching scheme which allows alert descriptors to be sourced from a plurality of different servers or communications terminals within the network.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein users who receive calls are able to exercise control over the kinds of customised alerts that they are willing to receive.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein alerts are categorised according to their nature and/or content, and users who receive calls may choose to receive only particular categories of alerts.

27. A method according to claim 25 wherein a user who receives calls may elect that a call be announced by a combination of two different alerts, one selected by the receiving user and one selected by a calling user.

28. A method according to claim 1 wherein the call is any one of the group of a telephone call, a voice over internet protocol call, a videophone call, a data call, a whiteboard sharing call, an instant messaging session, a multi-user gaming session.

2. A method for selecting the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in a customised alert service, the method including:

a. establishing a customised alert service configuration for a participating user which includes multiple alert descriptors, the customised alert service configuration being stored on one or more network accessible devices;

b. the participating user using a first communications terminal to make a call to a second communications terminal, the call being supported by a first communications service; and

c. the second communications terminal announcing the call by activating an alert using a chosen alert descriptor;

d. wherein the chosen alert descriptor is selected from the participating user'"'"'s multiple alert descriptors according to the customised alert service configuration for the participating user.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein alert descriptor information is transmitted from one communications terminal to another during the course of a voice call between two or more terminals.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the transmission of alert descriptor information occurs:

a. during pauses in voice conversation;

or

b. after voice conversation has ended;

or

c. interleaved with voice conversation.

9. A method according to claim 2 wherein the establishing of a customised alert service includes providing information which identifies the participating user or first communications terminal or first communications service.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is chosen according to processing of the identification information.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the processing is performed by the second communications terminal.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the processing is performed by a server device.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein the establishing of a customised alert service configuration for a participating user includes selecting and/or providing ancillary information for the participating user.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is chosen according to processing of the ancillary information and the identification information.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the processing of the ancillary information includes processing variables associated with the ancillary information, the associated variables selected from:

a. temporal variables;

b. seasonal and cultural variables;

c. geographical variables;

d. proximity variables; and

e. personal variables.

16. A method according to claim 2 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated to the second communications terminal from the first communications terminal.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated using the first communication service.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated using a communication path other than the first communication service.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the chosen alert descriptor has been communicated to the second communications terminal prior to a call set-up process.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated to the second communications terminal during a call set up process.

22. A method according to claim 18 wherein the chosen alert descriptor is communicated to the second communications terminal asynchronous to a call set up process.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein the alternative communications path makes use of the Internet.

3. A method for selecting the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in a customised alert service, the method including:

a. establishing a customised alert service configuration for a participating user, the customised alert service configuration being stored on one or more network accessible devices;

b. the participating user using a first communications terminal to make a call to a second communications terminal, the call being supported by a first communications service; and

c. the second communications terminal announcing the call by activating an alert using a chosen alert descriptor;

wherein the alert descriptor is chosen according to the customised alert service configuration for the participating user;

and wherein recently used alert descriptors are cached at the second communications terminal or on a network accessible device ready for rapid re-use.

4. A method for selecting the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in a customised alert service, the method including:

a. providing a range of alert descriptors available for selection and use by participating users;

b. establishing a customised alert service configuration for a participating user including one or more alert descriptors selected from the available range of alert descriptors, the customised alert service configuration being stored on one or more network accessible devices;

c. the participating user using a first communications terminal to make a call to a second communications terminal, the call being supported by a first communications service; and

d. the second communications terminal announcing the call by activating an alert using a chosen alert descriptor;

wherein the chosen alert descriptor is chosen according to the customised alert service configuration for the participating user.

29. A computerised system for enabling the nature and/or form of an alert used to announce a call made by a user participating in the system to a communications terminal participating in the system to be determined in accordance with the participating user'"'"'s preferences, including:

a. a plurality of communications terminals, at least some of which are capable of receiving and acting on an alert descriptor(s) and calls associated with alert descriptor(s);

b. a data entry device for creating a customised alert service for a participating user;

c. configuration software for configuring the participating user'"'"'s customised alert service, the configuring of the participating user'"'"'s customised alert service including selecting and/or providing at least one alert descriptor for use with the participating user'"'"'s customised alert service;

d. a database for storing the participating user'"'"'s customised alert service configuration;

e. processing means for choosing an alert descriptor for use with the call made by the participating user to a receiving communications terminal; and

f. Means of communicating alert descriptors to the receiving communications terminal;

wherein the chosen alert descriptor is selected in accordance with the configuration of the participating user'"'"'s customised alert service.

30. A system according to claim 29 wherein the processing means is a communications terminal associated with the participating user.

31. A system according to claim 29 wherein the processing means is the receiving communications terminal.

32. A system according to claim 29 wherein the processing means is a server device.