Incoming call indicator

• US 6,697,470 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven D. Mcdonough
• Original Assignee: Steven D. Mcdonough
• Inventors: McDonough, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/819,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.12, 379/142.13, 379/142.15, 379/142.17, 379/188, 379/196, 379/199, 379/200, 379/201.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.1, 379/207.13, 379/207.15, 379/207.16, 379/213.01, 379/214.01, 379/70, 379/76, 379/77, 379/79, 379/80, 379/82, 379/88.12, 379/88.18, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/372, 379/373.01, 379/373.03, 379/373.04, 379/374.02
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability

Abstract

A method for selecting from a plurality of modes for an incoming call indicator is provided. One of the plurality of modes comprises alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to a called party. When an incoming call is received, the selected mode determines the incoming call indicator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing at least two recorded messages;

based on an alternating criterion, automatically alternating playing the at least two recorded messages as an incoming call indicator to a called party when an incoming call is received by a phone;

wherein the alternating criterion comprises an occurrence of a subsequent ring of a same phone call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating criterion comprises receiving a new phone call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternating criterion comprises determination of an incoming phone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two recorded messages are alternated randomly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two recorded messages are alternated according to a predetermined order.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined order is user selectable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing recording capability for the at least two recorded messages.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two recorded messages comprise digitally recorded messages.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating a predetermined message with one or more incoming phone numbers, wherein the predetermined message is recorded by a user;

when a call is received from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, substituting the automatically alternating playing step with playing the predetermined message associated with the one of the incoming phone numbers as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

10. A method comprising:

storing one or more incoming phone numbers;

associating a predetermined message with each of the one or more incoming phone numbers, wherein the predetermined message is recorded by a user;

when a call is received from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, playing the predetermined message associated with the one of the incoming phone numbers as an incoming call indicator to a called party;

when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each incoming phone number is associated with one predetermined message tailored to the incoming phone number.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of storing the one or more incoming phone numbers on a phone that receives the call.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, utilizing a conventional ringing sound as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, playing a user-recorded message as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, alternating playing one of the series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to the called party on each subsequent ring of a same phone call.

16. A method comprising:

storing one or more incoming phone numbers;

associating two or more predetermined messages with each of the one or more incoming phone numbers, wherein the one or more predetermined messages are recorded by a user;

when a call is received from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, playing at least one of the two or more predetermined messages associated with the one of the incoming phone numbers as an incoming call indicator to a called party;

when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each incoming phone number is associated with one predetermined message tailored to the incoming phone number.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the one or more incoming phone numbers on a phone that receives the call.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, utilizing a conventional ringing sound as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, playing a user-recorded message as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of, when a call is received from a number that is not one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, alternating playing one of the series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to the called party on each subsequent ring of a same phone call.

22. A phone comprising at least three of the following modes of operation when a call is received by the phone:

A) utilizing a conventional ringing sound as an incoming call indicator to a called party;

B) playing a user-recorded message as the incoming call indicator to a called party;

C) alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to a called party independent of an incoming phone number;

D) associating at least two user-recorded caller-specific messages with one or more incoming phone numbers, and, when the call is from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, alternating playing at least one of the at least two user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to a called party, wherein alternating comprises at least one of alternating on each subsequent ring of a same phone call and alternating on each subsequent phone call.

23. The phone of claim 22, wherein the phone operates in mode D when the call is from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers and operates in one of mode A, mode B, and mode C when the call is not from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers.

24. The phone of claim 22, wherein the series of user-recorded messages is alternated on a per-ring basis.

25. The phone of claim 22, wherein the series of user-recorded messages is alternated on a per-call basis.

26. A method comprising the steps of:

selecting, from a plurality of modes, a mode for an incoming call indicator for a phone, wherein one of the plurality of modes comprises alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to a called party, wherein alternating comprises at least one of alternating on each subsequent ring of a some phone call and alternating on each subsequent phone call;

when an incoming call is received, utilizing the selected mode for the incoming call indicator.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein one of the plurality of modes comprises utilizing a conventional ringing sound as an incoming call indicator to a called party.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein one of the plurality of modes comprises playing a user-recorded message as the incoming call indicator to a called party.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein one of the plurality of modes comprises associating at least one user-recorded caller-specific message with one or more incoming phone numbers, and, when the call is from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, playing at least one of the at least one user-recorded message as the incoming call indicator to a called party.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein, when the call is not from one of the one or more incoming phone numbers, operating in a different mode.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the series of user-recorded messages is alternated on a per-ring basis.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the series of user-recorded messages is alternated on a per-call basis.