Software algorithm and method enabling message presentation during a telephone ringing signal period

• US 7,006,608 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ring Plus Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Anita Erickson, Karl Seelig
• Inventors: Seelig, Karl, Erickson, Anita
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F.
• Application Number:
  US10/185,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 379/373.01, 379/114.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.12, 379/114.13, 379/88.12, 379/88.25, 379/142.01
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A software based algorithm and associated method for generating and delivering to a caller or a recipient, or both, a message generated over a telephone link during a normal telephone ringing signal period. The software based algorithm and method is operable with hardware designed to accomplish this purpose, and is also effective for use with hard wire based telephone systems and cellular telephone systems. The algorithm and method operate on the basis of identifying a caller, introducing and playing a message and terminating the play of the message when a recipient answers a recipient telephone.

Claims

1. A software based algorithm for operation of a telephone system in which a generated sound presentation can replace or overlay a ring-back signal normally heard in a caller'"'"'s telephone until such time as a recipient of a telephone call answers the telephone call, said algorithm comprising the steps of:

a) initiating those actions to identify the class of persons represented by the caller;

b) introducing a sound presentation to be generated over the telephone which replaces a portion of or all of the ring-back signal;

c) determining whether the telephone line of the recipient telephone is busy;

d) terminating the telephone call and generating no sound presentation if the telephone line is busy and allowing for a sound presentation if the telephone line is not busy;

e) initiating those actions to play the introduced message to the caller or the recipient or both; and

f) terminating the playing of the sound presentation upon answering of the phone call by the recipient.

2. The software based algorithm of claim 1 further characterized in that the algorithm causes initiating those actions to identify the status of the telephone line between the caller and the recipient and terminating the telephone call if recipient telephone line is busy.

3. The software based algorithm of claim 2 further characterized in that the algorithm comprises initiating those actions to select and identify a sound presentation category which contains the message to be generated, before playing of the introduced message.

4. The software based algorithm of claim 1 further characterized in that the algorithm comprises initiating those actions to generate a billing of the caller or the provider or the provider-recipient or bath based on the telephone call initiated by a caller.

5. The software based algorithm of claim 1 further characterized in that the algorithm initiates those actions to generate and play the sound presentation during a portion of or the entire time that a ringing signal would normally be heard by the caller or the recipient or both.

6. The software based algorithm of claim 5 further characterized in that said algorithm initiates those actions to reduce the sound level of a ringing signal and the generation of a sound presentation overlying that ringing signal.

7. The software based algorithm of claim 5 further characterized in that said algorithm initiates those actions to eliminate the ringing signal and generation of a sound presentation in place of the ringing signal.

8. The software based algorithm of claim 5 further characterized in that said sound presentation is an advertising or promotional message and which is generated during a portion of the entire period in which a ringing signal would normally be heard at the telephone of the recipient.

9. A method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link during a portion of or all of a normal ringing cycle period between the completion of a dialing process by a caller and the time when a telephone of the recipient is answered, said method comprising:

a) initiating a telephone communication by terminating of the sound presentation when the intended recipient answers the telephone;

b) selecting one or more sound presentations based on the identification of the class of persons represented by the caller before generating of that sound presentation; and

c) generating the selected one or more sound presentations to be provided during a portion of or the entire time that a ringing signal would normally be generated at the telephone of the recipient and which generated sound presentation can be heard by the caller or the recipient or both;

d) determining whether the telephone line of the recipient telephone is busy; and

e) terminating the telephone call and generating no sound presentation if the telephone line is busy and allowing for a sound presentation if the telephone line is not busy.

10. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 9 further characterized in that the method comprises identifying the class of persons represented by the caller before selecting the one or more sound presentations to be presented.

11. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 10 further characterized in that the method causes the sound presentation to be generated at a telephone switching station for the caller or the recipient or both.

12. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 10 further characterized in that the method causes the sound presentation to be received at the telephone of the caller or the recipient.

13. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 10 further characterized in that said method comprises introducing and storing information relating to the be generated from a remote source.

14. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 10 further characterized in that the method further comprises:

(1) identifying the class of persons represented by the caller;

(2) thereafter identifying the category of sound presentations in which the sound presentation to be generated is contained; and

(3) selecting one or more messages in an identified category to be generated.

15. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 14 further characterized in that the method comprises identifying the status of the telephone line between the caller and the recipient before generation of the sound presentation.

16. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 10 further characterized in that the method comprises generating a billing to the caller or the recipient or both based on the telephone call between the caller and the recipient.

17. The method of generating a sound presentation over a telecommunication link of claim 16 further characterized in that the sound presentation is an advertising or promotional message which is generated during a portion of the entire period in which a ringing signal would normally be heard at the telephone of the recipient.

18. A method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation specific to the potential interests of a customer or a group of customers over a telecommunication link during a portion or all of a normal ringing cycle period in that telecommunication link, between the completion of a dialing process by a caller and the time when a telephone of the recipient is answered, said method comprising:

a) initiating a telephone communication link to an intended recipient;

b) identifying a class of persons represented by a caller to that recipient;

c) determining whether the telephone line of the recipient telephone is busy;

d) terminating the telephone call and generating no sound presentation if the telephone line is busy and allowing for a sound presentation if the telephone line is not busy;

e) comparing that identification against a stored source of information and determining a potential buying pattern of the caller from that information;

f) generating a message to be provided during a portion of or the entire time that a ringing signal would normally be heard at the telephone of the recipient; and

g) allowing the sound presentation to be heard by the caller or the recipient or both the telecommunication.

19. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that said method comprises the reduction in the sound of a ringing signal and the generation of a sound presentation overlying that ringing signal.

20. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that said method comprises elimination of the ringing signal and generation of a sound presentation in place of the ringing signal.

21. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that said method comprises generating the sound presentation during a portion of or all of the normal quiescent period of time in which a ringing signal would be generated.

22. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that the method causes the sound presentation to be generated at a telephone switching station for the caller or the recipient or both.

23. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that the method causes the sound presentation to be generated at the telephone of the caller or the recipient or both.

24. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 18 further characterized in that said method comprises introducing and storing information relating to the sound presentation to be generated and transmitted from a remote source.

25. The method of presenting an advertising or promotional sound presentation of claim 24 further characterized in that the method comprises:

(1) identifying the class of persons represented by the caller;

(2) thereafter identifying the category of sound presentations in which the sound presentation to be generated is contained; and

(3) selecting one or more sound presentations to be generated from the selected category of sound presentation.

26. A software based algorithm for operation of a subscriber station enabling a sound presentation to be generated during a telephone ringing signal period in a telephone communication between a provider or provider-recipient and a caller, said software based algorithm comprising:

a) recognizing an attempt to initiate a telephone dialing by a caller to a recipient;

b) initiating a telephone call if the phone of the recipient is on hook;

c) issuing a code to a provider or provider-recipient from whom the caller may wish to purchase a product or service;

d) accessing a code of the provider or provider-recipient;

e) loading of a sound presentation appropriate to the caller and/or recipient or provider-recipient based on that code;

f) taking action to cause generation of a sound presentation during a ringing signal period to be heard by the caller or the recipient or both; and

g) billing the recipient for the purchase of a product or service based on the presentation of the message.

27. The software based algorithm of claim 26 further characterized in that said algorithm comprises the step of obtaining data regarding the caller or the recipient or both by a subscriber station, processing the data and causing storage of same.

28. The software based algorithm of claim 26 further characterized in that said algorithm comprises the step of receiving information by a subscriber station from a remote source and using that information to add or revise sound presentations to be generated.

29. The software based algorithm of claim 26 further characterized in that said algorithm comprises the steps of receiving an order for a product or service from a provider, and processing the order by the subscriber station for the recipient or recipient-provider.

30. A software based algorithm for operation of a telephone system in which a sound presentation is heard and in which a caller can communicate with a provider delaying the ringing of a telephone of a recipient of the call, said algorithm comprising the steps of:

a) initiating those actions to allow a caller to dial a recipient'"'"'s telephone;

b) taking actions to temporarily delay the initiation of a ringing signal at the recipient'"'"'s telephone and/or any ring-back signal at the telephone of the caller;

c) introducing a sound presentation to be generated at the telephone of the caller during a portion of the ring-back signal;

d) initiating those actions to play the introduced sound presentation to the caller or the recipient or both;

e) allowing the ringing signal to progress to the recipient'"'"'s telephone and terminating the playing of the sound presentation upon answering of the phone call by the recipient; and

f) allowing for direct communication between the caller and a provider of a product or service independently of the recipient so that the caller can communicate directly with the provider.

31. The software based algorithm of claim 30 further characterized in that the algorithm comprises initiating those actions to select and identify a sound presentation category which contains the sound presentation to be generated, based on certain profile information relating to the caller, before playing of the introduced message.

32. The software based algorithm of claim 30 further characterized in that the algorithm comprises initiating those actions to generate a billing of the caller based on the telephone call between the caller and the provider.

33. A software based algorithm for operation of a telephone system in which a generated sound presentation replaces a ring-back signal normally heard in a caller'"'"'s telephone and/or a ringing signal is heard at a recipient'"'"'s telephone until such time as the recipient of a call answers the telephone call, said algorithm comprising the steps of:

a) initiating those actions to identify the class of persons represented by the caller;

b) introducing a sound presentation to be generated over the telephone which replaces a portion or all of the ring-back signal and/or the ringing signal;

c) locating sound presentation generating circuitry in the telephone of the caller or the recipient or both such that the sound presentation can be generated independently of the circuitry of a telephone circuit provider such that the sound presentation can be generated free of the normal charges of and the delays and congestion of the telephone circuit provider;

d) allowing the sound presentation generating circuitry to locate and provide a sound presentation appropriate to the caller or the recipient or both;

e) initiating those actions to play the introduced sound presentation to the caller or the recipient or both; and

f) terminating the playing of the sound presentation upon answering of the phone call by the recipient.

34. The software based algorithm of claim 33 further characterized in that the algorithm causes initiating those actions to identify the status of the telephone line between the caller and the recipient.

35. The software algorithm of claim 34 further characterized in that:

a) determining whether the telephone line of the recipient telephone is busy; and

b) terminating the telephone call and generating no sound presentation if the telephone line is busy and allowing for presentation of a sound presentation if the telephone line is not busy.