Terminal-coordinated ringtones

• US 20060040647A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan, Moody, Taryn
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling multiple telecommunications terminals that are associated with a common user to notify their user of the arrival of an incoming message via a ringtone, where the ringtone is: (i) coordinated across the terminals, and (ii) customized for each terminal based on one or more attributes of the terminal. In particular, in the illustrative embodiments a coordinating terminal that receives a message also directed to another telecommunications terminal sets the values of one or more properties of a ringtone (e.g., tempo, timbre, pitch, rhythm, etc.) based on one or more attributes of the other telecommunications terminal (e.g., terminal type, etc.).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a message at a first telecommunications terminal;

(b) outputting a first signal to notify the user of said first telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message, wherein said first signal is based on a first instance of a musical composition; and

(c) transmitting to a second telecommunications terminal a second signal that is based on a second instance of said musical composition;

wherein said second telecommunications terminal is associated with the user of said first telecommunications terminal; and

wherein the value of a first musical property of said first instance is based on an attribute of said first telecommunications terminal; and

wherein the value of said first musical property of said second instance is based on an attribute of said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said first musical property is independent of melody.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an acknowledgement message from said second telecommunications terminal after the transmitting of said second signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the value of a second musical property of said first instance is based on an attribute of said message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first musical property is one of pitch, timbre, harmony and rhythm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first musical property is one of volume, tempo, and dynamic range.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first musical property is for vocal music and is one of gender and language.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal is one of an audio clip and a Musical Instrument Digital Interface file.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said first telecommunications terminal is terminal type and wherein said terminal type is one of cellular phone, POTS phone, ISDN phone, and PBX phone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said attribute of said first telecommunications terminal is terminal type, and wherein said terminal type is one of hardphone and softphone.

10. A method comprising:

(a) receiving at a second telecommunications terminal;

(i) a first signal that represents an instance of a musical composition, from a first telecommunications terminal, and

(ii) a message; and

(b) outputting a second signal based on said first signal to notify the user of said second telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message;

wherein said first telecommunications terminal is associated with the user of said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein the value of a first musical property of said instance is based on said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said first musical property is independent of melody.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message to said first telecommunications terminal after the receiving of said first signal.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said first musical property is one of pitch, timbre, harmony and rhythm.

13. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a message at a first telecommunications terminal;

(b) playing a musical composition in accordance with a first value for a first musical property, wherein said musical composition is for notifying the user of said first telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message; and

(c) transmitting to a second telecommunications terminal a second value for said first musical property;

wherein said second telecommunications terminal is associated with the user of said first telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said first value is based on an attribute of said first telecommunications terminal and said second value is based on an attribute of said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said first musical property is independent of melody.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising (d) receiving an acknowledgement message from said second telecommunications terminal after the transmitting of said second value.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the value of a second musical property is based on an attribute of said message.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said first musical property is one of pitch, timbre, harmony and rhythm.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said first musical property is one of volume, tempo, and dynamic range.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein said first musical property is for vocal music and is one of gender and language.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said attribute of said first telecommunications terminal is terminal type, and wherein said terminal type is one of cellular phone, POTS phone, ISDN phone, and PBX phone.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said attribute of said first telecommunications terminal is terminal type, and wherein said terminal type is one of hardphone and softphone.

21. A method comprising:

(a) receiving at a second telecommunications terminal;

(i) a value for a first musical property, from a first telecommunications terminal, and

(ii) a message; and

(b) playing a musical composition in accordance with said value to notify the user of said second telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message;

wherein said first telecommunications terminal is associated with the user of said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said value is based on said second telecommunications terminal; and

wherein said first musical property is independent of melody.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising transmitting an acknowledgement message to said first telecommunications terminal after the receiving of said value.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said first musical property is one of pitch, timbre, harmony and rhythm.

24. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a message at a first telecommunications terminal;

(b) notifying, via a first alert-mode value, the user of said first telecommunications terminal of the arrival of said message; and

(c) transmitting a second alert-mode value to a second telecommunications terminal, wherein said second alert-mode value is for notifying the user of said second telecommunications terminal;

wherein the user of said first telecommunications terminal and the user of said second telecommunications terminal are the same; and

wherein said first alert-mode value and said second alert-mode value are based on the mute status of said first telecommunications terminal.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said first alert-mode value indicates one of a flashing icon and a flashing light.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said first alert-mode value indicates vibration.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising (d) determining a first value of a property of a musical composition wherein said first value of said property is based on the terminal type of said first telecommunications terminal.