Network infrastructure for ringbacks

• US 20060147016A1
• Filed: 01/04/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Seligmann, Doree Duncan, Moody, Taryn
• Granted Patent: US 7,706,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are disclosed that enable a caller to specify one or both of (i) the content of a ringback signal that is generated when placing a call, and (ii) one or more properties of the ringback signal. In the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a “far” data-processing system that is closer to the called terminal than to the calling terminal (e.g., a terminating switch, an edge switch that is close to the terminating switch, etc.) generates a ringback signal based on preferences or rules of the caller that are stored in a database. In the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a “near” data-processing system that is closer to the calling terminal than to the called terminal (e.g., an originating switch, an edge switch that is close to the originating switch, etc.) generates a ringback signal based on caller rules and preferences.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) generating at a first data-processing system a first ringback signal for a call that originates at a telecommunications terminal, wherein the content of said first ringback signal is specified by the user of said telecommunications terminal; and

(b) transmitting from said first data-processing system said first ringback signal to said telecommunications terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising (c) muting a second ringback signal, wherein said second ringback signal is generated by a second data-processing system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising (c) transmitting a second ringback signal to said originating terminal, wherein said second ringback signal is generated by a second data-processing system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first ringback signal and said second ringback signal are transmitted concurrently.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said ringback signal represents an instance of a musical composition, and wherein the value of a property of said instance is specified by the user of said telecommunications terminal, and wherein said property is independent of melody.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said property is one of tempo, timbre, volume, and pitch.

7. A method comprising:

(a) receiving at a first data-processing system a signal from a second data-processing system, wherein said signal indicates that one or more resources have been allocated to handle a call that originates from a telecommunications terminal;

(b) generating at said first data-processing system a first ringback signal after receiving said signal; and

(c) transmitting said first ringback signal to said telecommunications terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the content of said first ringback signal is specified by the user of said telecommunications terminal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said ringback signal represents an instance of a video clip, and wherein the value of a property of said instance is specified by the user of said telecommunications terminal, and wherein said property is independent of human recognition of video.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said ringback signal represents an instance of a text string, and wherein the value of a property of said instance is specified by the user of said telecommunications terminal, and wherein said property is a property of text that is independent of content.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising (d) muting a second ringback signal, wherein said second ringback signal is generated by said second data-processing system.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising (d) transmitting a second ringback signal to said telecommunications terminal, wherein said second ringback signal is generated by said second data-processing system

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said first ringback signal and said second ringback signal are transmitted concurrently.

14. A method comprising:

(a) receiving at a first data-processing system a first ringback signal from a second data-processing system, wherein said first ringback signal corresponds to a call that originates from a first telecommunications terminal;

(b) generating at said first data-processing system a second ringback signal after receiving said first ringback signal; and

(c) transmitting said second ringback signal, in place of said first ringback signal, to said first telecommunications terminal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the content of said second ringback signal is specified by the user of said first telecommunications terminal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said ringback signal represents an instance of an image, and wherein the value of a property of said instance is specified by the user of said first telecommunications terminal, and wherein said property is a property of images that is independent of human recognition of images.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said call is directed to a second telecommunications terminal, and wherein said second ringback signal conveys information about the user of said second telecommunications terminal.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said call is directed to a user, and wherein said second ringback signal conveys information about a second telecommunications terminal to which said call is routed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said information comprises one or more capabilities of said second telecommunications terminal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said information comprises the geo-location of said second telecommunications terminal.