TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING CALLER-ORIGINATED ALERT SIGNALS

• US 20070230678A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Liu, Charles, Minborg, Per-Ake, Bloebaum, L.
• Application Number:
  US11/761,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230678A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks

Abstract

A technique for providing customized, caller-originated alert signals is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for providing caller-originated alert signals. The method may comprise the steps of: creating, by a first user associated with a first user equipment, an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment; requesting, by the first user equipment, a communication session with the second user equipment; and causing the alert signal to be transmitted, via a phonepage server, to the second user equipment for rendering thereon to alert the second user of the communication session.

Claims

1. A method for providing caller-originated alert signals, the method comprising:

creating, by a first user associated with a first user equipment, an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment;

requesting, by the first user equipment, a communication session with the second user equipment; and

causing the alert signal to be transmitted, via a phonepage server, to the second user equipment for rendering thereon to alert the second user of the communication session.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a packet-switched network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a circuit-switched network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert signal is recorded and then transmitted to the phonepage server upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert signal is pre-recorded prior to selection of the second user for the communication session.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the pre-recorded alert signal is stored on the phonepage server.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second user is identified to the phonepage server and the phonepage server identifies the pre-recorded alert signal based on the identity of the second user.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the pre-recorded alert signal is stored in the first user equipment and transmitted to the phonepage server upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the phonepage server pushes the alert signal to the second user equipment.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert signal is identified to the second user equipment and the second user equipment pulls the alert signal from the the phonepage server.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alert signal is customized based on one or more factors selected from a group consisting of:

an identity of the second user, a type of the communication session, and predetermined triggering events associated with the communication session.

12. A system for providing caller-originated alert signals, the system comprising:

a phonepage server, a first user equipment, and a second user equipment;

the first user equipment being configured to create an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment and to request a communication session with the second user equipment;

the phonepage server being configured to cause the customized alert signal to be transmitted to the second user equipment; and

the second user equipment being configured to render the customized alert signal to alert the second user of the communication session.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a packet-switched network.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a circuit-switched network.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alert signal is recorded and then transmitted to the phonepage server upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alert signal is pre-recorded prior to selection of the second user for the communication session.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the pre-recorded alert signal is stored on the phonepage server.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the second user is identified to the phonepage server and the phonepage server identifies the pre-recorded alert signal based on the identity of the second user.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the pre-recorded alert signal is stored in the first user equipment and transmitted to the phonepage server upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the phonepage server pushes the alert signal to the second user equipment.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alert signal is identified to the second user equipment and the second user equipment pulls the alert signal from the the phonepage server.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alert signal is customized based on one or more factors selected from a group consisting of:

an identity of the second user, a type of the communication session, and predetermined triggering events associated with the communication session.

23. A user equipment for providing caller-originated alert signals, the user equipment comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to at least one memory unit, a user interface, and a communication unit; and

the processor being configured to;

create an alert signal that is customized for a user associated with a second user equipment;

request a communication session with the second user equipment; and

cause the alert signal to be transmitted, via a phonepage server, to the second user equipment for rendering thereon to alert the user of the communication session.

24. A downloadable application or module for providing caller-originated alert signals, the downloadable application or module being stored on a computer-readable media executable to perform:

creating, by a first user associated with a first user equipment, an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment;

requesting, by the first user equipment, a communication session with the second user equipment; and

causing the alert signal to be transmitted, via a phonepage server, to the second user equipment for rendering thereon to alert the second user of the communication session.