Forked-call ringback replacement system

• US 20060233328A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Original Assignee: Clifford J. Radziewicz, Jeffrey C. Dillow, Mark R. Gregorek
• Inventors: Gregorek, Mark R., Radziewicz, Clifford J., Dillow, Jeffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 Details of providing call progress tones or announcements

Abstract

A ringback replacement system for modifying or replacing certain communications network signals and tones in a roaming, forked-call, forwarded-call, or mobility environment is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the ringback replacement system to allow for modification of the network service.

Claims

1. A system for customizing a communications network, the system comprising:

at least one communications station associated with a called party;

a storage device containing at least one announcement; and

,

a communications device for initiating a forked or forwarded call to locate said called party at said at least one communications station;

wherein at least a portion of a call signal is replaced with at least a portion of said announcement.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said call signal is selected from a group consisting of ringback signals, busy signals, network redirect signals, call progress signals, network announcement signals, and dial tone signals.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement is prerecorded.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement is live.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises audio.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises video.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises data.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises an interactive game.

9. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises an album of related announcements.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises advertising.

11. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement comprises programming material.

12. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a wireless telephone, a cellular telephone, a video telephone, a mobile computer, a personal digital assistant, and a multimedia handset.

13. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station comprises a communications network.

14. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises a communications station.

15. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises a communications network.

16. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises a gateway.

17. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises a proxy server.

18. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station comprises an integrated display unit featuring a menu system.

19. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said menu system displays announcements available from a communications network.

20. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said menu system displays announcements available from a communications device.

21. A system as defined in claim 18 wherein said menu system displays stored network addresses.

22. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications network is selected from the group consisting of a circuit-switched network, a packet-based network, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a virtual private network, a metropolitan area network, a broadcast network, a wireless network, and a cellular network.

23. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station accesses said system via communications station soft keys.

24. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station accesses said system via communications station hard keys.

25. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station accesses said system via an attachable input device.

26. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications station accesses said system via a voice recognition module.

27. A method for replacing at least a portion of a call signal with at least a portion of an announcement, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a call by a calling party from a first communications device;

locating a second communications device via a forked or forwarded call;

accessing a storage device containing at least one announcement;

playing at least a portion of said announcement to said first communications device as a call signal; and

,

terminating the playing of said announcement to said first communications device.

28. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein said call signal is selected from the group consisting of ringback signals, busy signals, network redirect signals, call progress signals, network announcement signals, and dial tone signals.

29. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein said announcement is prerecorded.

30. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein said announcement is live.

31. A method for customizing a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication with a system capable of replacing at least a portion of a call signal with at least one announcement;

accessing a storage device containing said announcement; and

,

associating at least one network address with said announcement;

delivering at least a portion of said announcement as a call signal while a communications device is located via a forked or forwarded call.

32. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein said call signal is selected from the group consisting of ringback signals, busy signals, network redirect signals, call progress signals, network announcement signals, and dial tone signals.

33. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein said announcement is prerecorded.

34. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein said announcement is live.

35. A method as defined in claim 31 wherein said system is accessed after successful completion of an authorization routine.

36. A method as defined in claim 35 wherein said authorization routine verifies the subscription status of said user.

37. A method as defined in claim 36 wherein said authorization routine allows said user to subscribe to a network service.