Ringback replacement insertion system

• US 20060285675A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Original Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Inventors: Gregorek, Mark R., Radziewicz, Clifford J., Dillow, Jeffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/215.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A ringback replacement insertion system for replacing certain communications network signals and tones 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 first network service provider;

a storage device containing at least one announcement; and

,

a network gateway for connecting a call placed from said first network service provider to a second network service provider;

wherein at least a portion of said announcement is delivered to said communications device by said network gateway as a call signal before said call is answered.

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

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

4. A system as defined in claim 1 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.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said announcement is selected from the group consisting of an audio clip, a video clip, a data file, an interactive game, advertising, and programming material.

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said network gateway comprises a communications network.

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

12. A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said menu system displays announcements available from a communications network.

13. A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said menu system displays announcements available from a communications station.

14. 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.

15. A method for delivering at least a portion of an announcement to a calling station, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a call from a communications station associated with a first network service provider;

connecting said communications station to a second network service provider;

delivering at least a portion of said announcement to said communications station as a call signal;

terminating the delivery of said announcement to said communications station; and

completing said call.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said announcement is prerecorded.

17. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein said announcement is live.

18. A method as defined in claim 15 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.

19. A method for delivering at least a portion of an announcement to a calling station on hold within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a call from a communications station to a called station;

placing said communications station on hold within said network;

delivering at least a portion of said announcement to said communications device;

terminating the delivery of said announcement to said communications device; and

connecting said communications station to said called station.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein said placing said communications station on hold within said network further comprises queuing said station within said network.