Method and system for selectable call termination attempt notification and blocking

• US 20060215829A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Paul M.
• Application Number:
  US11/088,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215829A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones

Abstract

A call notification method and system permits (1) a calling party to select one of a plurality of audible and/or visual call alerts to be provided with a call to a called party on a call termination attempt by the calling party to the called party; (2) a called party to select one of a plurality of audible and/or visual calling alerts to be provided to a calling party on a call termination attempt by the calling party to the called party; and (3) the respective parties to block undesired call alerts and calling alerts, respectively.

Claims

1. A call alert system implemented as a call alert service to a calling party by a telephone service provider, the calling party wishing to have a particular call alert provided to a called party upon a call termination attempt by the calling party, the call alert system comprising:

selection means for the calling party to select one of a plurality of call alerts to be provided with the call to the called party; and

processing means for providing the selected call alert to the called party on the call termination attempt.

2. A call alert system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of call alerts comprise ringtones.

3. A call alert system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of call alerts comprise audio clips.

4. A call alert system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of call alerts comprise video clips.

5. A call alert system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of call alerts comprise digital pictures.

6. A ringtone system implemented as a ringtone service to a calling party by a telephone service provider, comprising:

selection means for the calling party to select one of a plurality of ringtones to be provided with a call to a called party; and

processing means for providing the selected ringtone to the called party on a call termination attempt to the called party.

7. A communication device, comprising:

a controller for a calling party to select one of a plurality of call alerts to be provided with a call to a called party upon a call termination attempt; and

a processor for providing the selected call alert to the called party.

8. A communication device as in claim 7, wherein the device is wireless.

9. A calling alert system implemented as a calling alert service to a called party by a telephone service provider, the called party wishing to have a particular calling alert provided to a calling party upon a call termination attempt to the called party, the calling alert system comprising:

selection means for the called party to select one of a plurality of calling alerts to be provided to the calling party; and

processing means for providing the selected calling alert to the calling party on the call termination attempt.

10. A calling alert system as in claim 9, wherein the plurality of calling alerts comprise ringtones.

11. A calling alert system as in claim 9, wherein the plurality of calling alerts comprise audio clips.

12. A calling alert system as in claim 9, wherein the plurality of calling alerts comprise video clips.

13. A calling alert system as in claim 9, wherein the plurality of calling alerts comprise digital pictures.

14. A communication device, comprising:

a controller for a called party to select one of a plurality of calling alerts to be provided to a calling party upon a call termination attempt to the called party; and

a processor for providing the selected calling alert to the calling party.

15. A communication device as in claim 14, wherein the device is wireless.

16. A call alert blocking system implemented as a call alert blocking service to a called party by a telephone service provider, the called party wishing to block a particular call alert upon a call termination attempt by a calling party, the call alert system comprising:

selection means for the called party to select a call alert to be blocked with a call from the calling party; and

processing means for blocking the selected call alert to the called party.

17. For use in a communication network, a method for a calling party to provide a selected call alert to a called party upon a call termination attempt, the method comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of call alerts to be provided with the call to the called party; and

processing the selected call alert and providing the selected call alert to the called party on the call termination attempt.

19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the communication network includes a wireless telephone network.

18. For use in a communication network, a method for a called party to provide a selected calling alert to a calling party upon a call termination attempt, the method comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of calling alerts to be provided to the calling party upon the call termination attempt; and

processing the selected calling alert and providing the selected calling alert to the calling party on the call termination attempt.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein the communication network includes a wireless telephone network.