Handset-originated programmable ringback replacement system

• US 20070003040A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Original Assignee: Eclips LLC
• Inventors: Radziewicz, Clifford, Dillow, Jeffrey, Gregorek, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4285 Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A handset-originated ringback replacement system for modifying or replacing certain communications network tones is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the handset-originated ringback replacement system to allow for modification of the network service.

Claims

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

a first communications device;

a second communications device associated with a network address;

a storage device containing at least one prerecorded announcement;

wherein said first communications device accesses said system for the purpose of creating an association between said network address and said prerecorded announcement; and

wherein said first communication device replaces at least a portion of an audible call progress signal intended for said second communications device with said prerecorded announcement.

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

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said prerecorded announcement comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a song clip, an audio clip, a video component, advertising, an interactive and news footage.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said network address comprises a wildcard address matching all network addresses.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said association serves to remove all previous associations and revert said call progress signal to conventional tones.

6. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a telephone a cellular telephone, a mobile computer, a personal digital assistant, and a communications network.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications device comprises an integrated or attachable display unit.

8. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said integrated or attachable display unit features a menu system.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said menu system can display all said prerecorded announcements available on said communications network.

10. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said menu system can display all said network addresses stored on said communications device'"'"'s address book.

11. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said communications network comprises at least one selected from the group consisting ogan interexchange network, a local exchange network, a long distance network, a broadcast network, and a wireless network.

12. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first communications device accesses said system via soft keys integrated with said first communications device.

13. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first communications device accesses said system via hard keys integrated with said first communications device.

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

15. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first communications device accesses said system via a voice recognition module.

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

17. A method for replacing at least a portion of a call progress signal generated by a communications device with a prerecorded announcement, the method comprising the steps of:

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

connecting said call to a second communications device;

said second communications device accessing a storage device containing at least one prerecorded announcement;

said second communications device playing said prerecorded announcement to said first communications device as a call progress signal;

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

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said call progress signal is selected from a group consisting of ringback signals, busy signals, call waiting signals, and dial tone signals.