Methods, systems, and computer program products for delivering ring tones on a communication network by associating ring tones with media files

• US 20070140470A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/374.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/64 file transfer between terminals download of applications H04M1/72406; transfer of messages, e.g. SMS, e-mail or MMS H04M1/7243
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

Ring tones can be delivered on a communication network by associating one or more ring tones with a media file, such as a song, that may, for example, be purchased by a customer. The associated ring tones may be presented to a customer to allow the customer to choose which ring tone(s) he/she would like to have as well as to select how the ring tone(s) are to be delivered. For example, the ring tone(s) may be delivered directly to a phone using, for example, a Short Message Service (SMS) message. The ring tone(s) may also be delivered to a storage location, such as on a personal computer, for example, allowing the customer to install the ring tone(s) on his/her phone independently. A key may also be delivered to a storage location that allows the user to invoke the key at later time to trigger delivery of the ring tone(s) over the air via an SMS message.

Claims

1. A method of delivering ring tones on a communication network, comprising:

associating ring tones with media files;

receiving a selection of at least one of the media files;

receiving a selection of at least one ring tone associated with the at least one of the media files;

communicating the selected at least one of the media files to a destination; and

providing access to the at least one ring tone that is associated with the selected at least one of the media files.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the at least one ring tone comprises:

communicating the at least one ring tone to the destination.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting the at least one of the media files at the destination; and

playing the at least one ring tone that is associated with the at least one of the media files responsive to the selection of the at least one of the media files at the destination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access to the at least one ring tone comprises:

communicating an access key for the at least one ring tone to the destination.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a phone number responsive to activation of the access key; and

communicating the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a phone number; and

wherein providing access to the at least one ring tone comprises;

communicating the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a price assigned to the at least one ring tone is based on the selection of the at least one of the media files.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of the at least one ring tone comprises at least one of the following:

receiving a quantity request for a number of the at least one ring tone; and

receiving an audio quality request for the at least one ring tone.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the audio quality request comprises a selection of either monophonic quality of polyphonic quality.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a price assigned to the at least one ring tone is based on the selection of the at least one of the media files, the quantity request, the quality request, and/or a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of ring tones and/or media files.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein associating ring tones with media files comprises associating ring tones with media files based on a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of ring tones and/or media files.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein associating ring tones with media files comprises associating ring tones with media files based on a customer profile that defines the customer'"'"'s media preferences.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected at least one ring tone has a digital rights management (DRM) measure associated therewith.

14. A method of operating a user interface for delivering ring tones on a communication network, comprising:

presenting at least one media file to a user, the at least one media file having at least one ring tone associated therewith; and

presenting a plurality of options for delivering the associated ring tone to a destination.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting a plurality of options comprises:

presenting an interface for entering a phone number associated with a phone that is the destination.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting a plurality of options comprises:

presenting an interface for requesting that the associated ring tone be downloaded as a file.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting a plurality of options comprises:

presenting an interface for requesting downloading of an access key;

wherein invocation of the access key provides an interface for entering a phone number associated with a phone that is the destination.

18. A system for delivering ring tones on a communication network, comprising:

a content server that is configured to associate ring tones with media files, receive a selection of at least one of the media files, receive a selection of at least one ring tone associated with the at least one of the media files, and communicate the selected at least one of the media files to a destination such that access is provided to at least one ring tone that is associated with the selected at least one of the media files.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the content server is further configured to communicate the at least one ring tone to the destination.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the content server is further configured to communicate an access key for the at least one ring tone to the destination.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the content server is further configured to receive a phone number responsive to activation of the access key, and communicate the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the content server is further configured to receive a phone number, and to communicate the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

23. A computer program product for delivering ring tones on a communication network, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to associate ring tones with media files;

computer readable program code configured to receive a selection of at least one of the media files;

computer readable program code configured to receive a selection of at least one ring tone associated with the at least one of the media files;

computer readable program code configured to communicate the selected at least one of the media files to a destination; and

computer readable program code configured to provide access to at least one ring tone that is associated with the selected at least one of the media files.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code configured to provide access to the at least one ring tone comprises:

computer readable program code configured to communicate the at least one ring tone to the destination.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to select the at least one of the media files at the destination; and

computer readable program code configured to play the at least one ring tone that is associated with the at least one of the media files responsive to the selection of the at least one of the media files at the destination.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code configured to provide access to the at least one ring tone comprises:

computer readable program code configured to communicate an access key for the at least one ring tone to the destination.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive a phone number responsive to activation of the access key; and

computer readable program code configured to communicate the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

28. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive a phone number; and

wherein the computer readable program code configured to provide access to the at least one ring tone comprises;

computer readable program code configured to communicate the at least one ring tone to a phone associated with the received phone number.

29. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code configured to receive a selection of at the least one ring tone comprises at least one of the following:

computer readable program code configured to receive a quantity request for a number of the at least one ring tone; and

computer readable program code configured to receive an audio quality request for the at least one ring tone.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein a price assigned to the at least one ring tone is based on the selection of the at least one of the media files, the quantity request, the quality request, and/or a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of ring tones and/or media files.

31. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code configured to associate ring tones with media files comprises computer readable program code configured to associate ring tones with media files based on a customer'"'"'s previous purchases of ring tones and/or media files.

32. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the computer readable program code configured to associate ring tones with media files comprises computer readable program code configured to associate ring tones with media files based on a customer profile that defines the customer'"'"'s media preferences.

33. A computer program product operating a user interface for delivering ring tones on a communication network, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to present at least one media file to a user, the at least one media file having at least one ring tone associated therewith; and

computer readable program code configured to present a plurality of options for delivering the associated ring tone to a destination.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer readable program code configured to present a plurality of options comprises:

computer readable program code configured to present an interface for entering a phone number associated with a phone that is the destination.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer readable program code configured to present a plurality of options comprises:

computer readable program code configured to present an interface for requesting that the associated ring tone be downloaded as a file.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the computer readable program code configured to present a plurality of options comprises:

computer readable program code configured to present an interface for requesting downloading of an access key;

wherein invocation of the access key provides an interface for entering a phone number associated with a phone that is the destination.