Pushed Ringtones Based on Device-Side Content

• US 20100223095A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ranta, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A ringtone service distributes selected ringtones to respective communication devices in a communication network. A particular ringtone for a respective communication device is selected is in accordance with at least one recommendation operation and ringtone selector data. The selector data is generated from user data associated with the particular communication device from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting how a user will like a particular ringtone. A media purchase link, provided with the ringtone, assists with the purchase of an associated media file from a media purchase service. A ringtone may comprise a sample from a source (e.g. an audio or video recording) and the associated medial file may comprise a copy of the source.

Claims

1. A method of communicating ringtones to a communication device comprising:

sending ringtone selector data to a ringtone service for selecting a ringtone in accordance with at least one recommendation operation, said selector data generated from user data associated with the communication device; and

receiving a ringtone selected in accordance with the ringtone selector data for notifying a user of a communication device event.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving a media purchase link in association with the ringtone for assisting with a purchase of a media file.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising using the media purchase link to purchase and receive the media file.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising generating the ringtone selector data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication device configured for receiving data services from a communication network server and wherein the method comprises performing the steps of generating, sending and receiving on behalf of the communication device by the communication network server and further comprises forwarding the ringtone to the communication device by the communication network server.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein user data comprises one or more of a plurality of media files, browser history and a plurality of messages and wherein generating the ringtone selector data comprises selecting user data from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting the user'"'"'s behavior in relation to a particular ringtone.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication device and wherein the method comprises receiving the ringtone via a wireless network in accordance with a push communication.

8. A communication device for receiving ringtones from a ringtone service, the communication device comprising:

a processor and a memory coupled thereto, said memory storing instructions and data configuring the processor to;

send ringtone selector data to the ringtone service for selecting a ringtone in accordance with at least one recommendation operation, said selector data generated from user data associated with the communication device; and

receive a ringtone selected in accordance with the ringtone selector data for notifying a user of a communication device event.

9. The communication device of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured to receive a media purchase link in association with the ringtone for assisting a purchase of a media file.

10. The communication device of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to use the media purchase link to purchase and receive the media file.

11. The communication device of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to generate the ringtone selector data.

12. The communication device of claim 11 wherein generating the ringtone selector data comprises selecting user data from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting the user'"'"'s behavior in relation to a particular ringtone.

13. The communication device of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured to generate notifications of communication device events in accordance with at least one notification profile;

and use the ringtone to generate a notification in accordance with the at least one profile.

14. A computer program product storing instructions and data, which when executed, configure a processor to for:

sending ringtone selector data to a ringtone service for selecting a ringtone in accordance with at least one recommendation operation, said selector data generated from user data associated with the communication device; and

receiving a ringtone selected in accordance with the ringtone selector data for notifying a user of a communication device event.

15. A method of providing a ringtone service for communicating ringtones to a communication device comprising:

receiving ringtone selector data for selecting a ringtone in accordance with at least one recommendation operation, said selector data generated from user data associated with the communication device;

selecting a ringtone in accordance with the recommendation operation and ringtone selector data; and

sending the ringtone for use by the communication device to notify a user of a communication device event.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising sending a media purchase link in association with the ringtone for assisting a purchase of a media file.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one recommendation operation selects a particular ringtone from a store of ringtones utilizing a collaborative filter and implicit observations of user behavior from the ringtone selector data.

18. The method of claim 15 comprising maintaining a store of ringtones from which to select.

19. A method of purchasing a media file comprising:

receiving a ringtone and associated media file purchase link at a communication device, said link associated to a media file for purchase through a media purchase service, the ringtone and associated media file selectively communicated to the communication device in accordance with at least one recommendation operation and ringtone selector data generated from user data associated with the communication device from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting the user'"'"'s behavior in relation to a particular ringtone;

invoking the media purchase service using the media file purchase link; and

purchasing and receiving the media file using the communication device.

20. A system for distributing ringtones to communication devices comprising:

a communication network;

a ringtone server communicatively coupled to the network, said server configured to communicate ringtones for presentation to users of communication devices, selecting a particular ringtone for a particular communication device in accordance with at least one recommendation operation and ringtone selector data generated from user data associated with the particular communication device from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting the user'"'"'s behavior in relation to a particular ringtone; and

a plurality of communication devices communicatively coupled to the network and configured to communicate with the server to receive the ringtones.