METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATING COLOR RINGBACK TONES

• US 20090154664A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sangoma US, Inc. (Sangoma Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dialogic, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Davies, Martyn W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.140
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system and method for providing dynamically generated information to a caller during the ringing state of a telephone call. In one example, color ringback tones may be used in conjunction with text-to-speech technology and caller ID services to provide personalized audio messages. These messages may be generated in real time and may include information that may be useful to the caller, such as up-to-date status information (e.g., the status of the caller'"'"'s voicemail inbox), news or other information.

Claims

1. A method of providing information from a called system to a caller before a call to the called system is answered, the method comprising:

receiving the information from the called system;

converting the information into an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal before the call is answered.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein playing the audio signal includes playing the audio signal during a ringing state of the call.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein playing the audio signal includes playing the audio signal superimposed on a ringing tone during the ringing state of the call.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein converting the information into an audio signal includes converting the information into a spoken message.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

extracting caller identification information; and

providing the caller identification information to the called system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein receiving the personalized information includes receiving information based on the caller identification information.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein receiving the personalized information includes receiving a text message comprising the information.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein converting the information includes using a text-to-speech apparatus to convert the text message into a spoken message;

and wherein the audio signal comprises the spoken message.

9. A computer readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct an apparatus comprising the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A system for providing information to a caller during a ringing state of a telephone call, the system comprising:

a media channel;

media server, coupled to the media channel, and constructed and arranged to output a media signal on the media channel during the ringing state of the telephone call;

an application constructed and arranged to provide control information to the media server; and

a text-to-speech apparatus coupled to the media server,

wherein the media server is constructed and arranged to provide a text message to the text-to-speech apparatus based on the control information received from the application, and

wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is constructed and arranged to provide an audio signal to the media sever, the audio signal being derived from the text message, and

wherein the media signal comprises the audio signal.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the application is constructed and arranged to communicate with the media server using at least one MSML script.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to receive a caller ID that identifies at least one of the caller and a telephone number from which the caller is calling.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control information is based at least in part on the caller ID.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a called system, and wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to request system information from the called system, and wherein the control information includes at least some of the system information.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the called system is a voicemail server.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to provide the caller ID to the called system, and wherein the system information is based at least in part on the caller ID.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the system information comprises a status of a mailbox associated with the caller ID.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the text message includes the status of the mailbox associated with the caller ID.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the audio signal includes the status of the mailbox associated with the caller ID.

20. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is implemented as a software function within the media server.

21. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the media signal further comprises a ringing tone.

22. A system for providing information from a called system to a caller during a ringing state of a telephone call, the system comprising:

means for receiving the information from the called system and for generating a text message comprising the information;

a text-to-speech apparatus constructed and arranged to convert the text message into a spoken message; and

a media gateway constructed and arranged to play the spoken message during the ringing state of the telephone call.

23. A method of providing information from a called system to a caller during a ringing state of a telephone call, the method comprising:

receiving the information from the called system;

converting the information into an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal during the ringing state of the telephone call.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the audio signal comprises a spoken message, and wherein converting the information into the audio signal comprises using a text-to-speech apparatus to convert the information into the spoken message.

25. A system for providing information to a caller before a call made by the caller is answered, the system comprising:

a media channel;

media server, coupled to the media channel, and constructed and arranged to receive call signal information and to output a media signal on the media channel before the call is answered; and

a text-to-speech apparatus coupled to the media server,

wherein the media server is constructed and arranged to provide a text message to the text-to-speech apparatus based on the call signal information, and wherein

wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is constructed and arranged to provide an audio signal to the media sever, the audio signal being derived from the text message, and

wherein the media signal comprises the audio signal.