VISUAL ALERT PROVISIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20060233339A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul M. Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Paul M. Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones

Abstract

A visual alert method and system permits (1) a visual alert to be provided with a call to a called party on a call termination attempt; (2) a visual alert to be provided to a calling party on a call termination attempt; and (3) the respective parties to block undesired visual alerts. Such visual alerts may comprise icons that may be navigated by a subscriber to trigger and initiate corresponding and dynamically updatable communications and communication links.

Claims

1. An image provisioning system implemented as an image provisioning service of a communication service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including an image; and

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the image for display on a subscriber communication device

2. An image provisioning system as in claim 1, wherein the communication service provider is a telephone service provider.

3. An image provisioning system as in claim 2, wherein the telephone service provider is a wireless telephone service provider.

5. An image provisioning system as in claim 1, wherein the processor provides the image to the subscriber on a call termination attempt.

6. An image provisioning system as in claim 1, wherein the processor provides the image to the subscriber for display for a predetermined time following a call termination.

9. An image provisioning system as in claim 1, wherein the subscriber is a called party.

10. An image provisioning system as in claim 1, wherein the subscriber is a calling party.

4. A visual alert system implemented as a visual alert provisioning service of a telephone service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including a corporate logo; and

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the logo for display on a subscriber communication device.

8. An image provisioning system as in claim 4, wherein the logo identifies the telephone service provider.

7. A visual alert system implemented as a visual alert provisioning service of a GPS service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including a corporate logo; and

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the logo for display on a subscriber communication device.

11. A visual alert provisioning system implemented as an icon provisioning service of a telephone service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including an icon and a corresponding communication;

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the icon and the corresponding communication to a subscriber;

wherein the icon is displayable on a subscriber communication device and is navigable by the subscriber to initiate the corresponding communication.

12. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the telephone service provider is a wireless telephone service provider.

14. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the service node generates the signaling message on a call setup.

15. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the processor provides the icon and the corresponding communication to the subscriber on a call termination attempt.

16. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the processor provides the icon to the subscriber for display for a predetermined time.

17. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the processor provides the icon to the subscriber for display until the subscriber deactivates it.

18. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the communication comprises a media file.

19. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the communication comprises text.

20. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to store the icon so that the communication may be subsequently initiated by the subscriber by navigating the icon.

21. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to store the corresponding communication so that it may be subsequently initiated by the subscriber by navigating the icon.

22. An icon provisioning system as in claim 21, wherein the communication comprises an SMS text message.

23. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the subscriber is a called party.

24. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the subscriber is a calling party.

25. An icon provisioning system as in claim 20, wherein the stored communication is automatically deleted after a predetermined time.

26. An icon provisioning system as in claim 20, wherein the stored communication is automatically updated after a predetermined time.

27. An icon provisioning system as in claim 20, wherein the stored icon is automatically deleted after a predetermined time.

28. An icon provisioning system as in claim 21, wherein the stored communication is automatically updated after a predetermined time.

29. An icon provisioning system as in claim 21, wherein the stored communication is automatically updated after a predetermined event.

30. An icon provisioning system as in claim 20, wherein the stored icon is automatically deleted after a predetermined event.

31. An icon provisioning system as in claim 21, wherein the stored communication is automatically deleted after a predetermined event.

32. An icon provisioning system as in claim 21, wherein the stored communication is automatically deleted after a predetermined time.

33. An icon provisioning system as in claim 11, wherein the communication comprises a hyperlink pointing to a supplemental communication.

13. A visual alert provisioning system implemented as an icon provisioning service of a GPS service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including an icon and a corresponding communication;

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the icon and the corresponding communication to a subscriber;

wherein the icon is displayable on a subscriber communication device and is navigable by the subscriber to initiate the corresponding communication.

34. An icon provisioning system implemented as an icon provisioning service of a telephone service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including an icon having an embedded hyperlink pointing to a communication;

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the icon and the hyperlink to a subscriber;

wherein the icon is provided to the subscriber for display and is navigable by the subscriber to trigger the hyperlink and initiate the corresponding communication.

35. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the communication service provider is a wireless service provider.

36. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the wireless service provider is a VoIP service provider.

37. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the communication comprises a web page.

38. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the communication comprises a media file.

39. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the processor is further operative to store the icon and the embedded hyperlink so that the icon and the hyperlink may be subsequently provided to the subscriber and the communication may be subsequently initiated by the subscriber by navigating the icon

40. An icon provisioning system as in claim 39, wherein the stored icon is automatically deleted after a predetermined time.

41. An icon provisioning system as in claim 39, wherein the stored icon is automatically deleted following a predetermined event.

42. An icon provisioning system as in claim 39, wherein the hyperlink is automatically deleted after a predetermined time.

43. An icon provisioning system as in claim 39, wherein the hyperlink is automatically updated after a predetermined time.

44. An icon provisioning system as in claim 34, wherein the hyperlink is automatically updated following a predetermined event.

45. An icon provisioning system implemented as an icon provisioning service of a communication service provider, the provisioning system comprising:

a service node operable to generate a signaling message including an icon and a corresponding communication; and

a processor in communication with the service node for providing the icon and the corresponding communication to a subscriber;

wherein the icon is displayable on a subscriber communication device and is navigable by the subscriber to forward the icon and the corresponding communication to a wireless telephone.

46. A wireless telephone, comprising

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the telephone;

and

a processor operative to display a corresponding communication.

47. A communication device, comprising:

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the device; and

a processor operative to forward the icon and a corresponding communication to a wireless telephone.

48. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the device; and

a processor operative to initiate a linked remotely stored communication.

49. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the device;

a processor operative to initiate a corresponding communication provided with the icon; and

a storage unit for selectively storing the icon and the communication.

50. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the device;

a processor operative to initiate a linked remotely stored communication;

a storage unit for selectively storing the icon and link to the remotely stored communication.

51. A GPS receiver, comprising:

a controller operative to navigate an icon provided to a subscriber by a communication service provider and displayed on the device; and

a processor operative to initiate a linked remotely stored communication.

52. An icon blocking system implemented as an icon blocking service to a subscriber by a communication service provider, the subscriber wishing to block an icon, the call icon blocking system comprising:

selection means for the subscriber to select an icon to be blocked; and

processing means for blocking the selected icon to the subscriber.

53. For use in a telephone network, a method for a calling party to provide a selected icon and communication to a called party upon a call termination attempt by the calling party, the method comprising:

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

generating a corresponding communication;

processing the selected icon and providing the selected icon and communication to the called party on the call termination attempt; and

displaying the selected icon to the called party;

wherein the selected icon is navigable by the called party to initiate the corresponding communication.

54. For use in a telephone network, a method for a called party to provide a selected icon and communication to a calling party upon a call termination attempt by the calling party, the method comprising:

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

generating a corresponding communication;

processing the selected icon and providing the selected icon and communication to the calling party on the call termination attempt; and

displaying the selected icon to the calling party;

wherein the selected icon is navigable by the calling party to initiate the corresponding communication.