Programming multiple ringing tones of a terminal

• US 7,020,497 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Deeds, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/154,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/550.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/374.01, 379/418, 379/375.01, 379/67.1, 379/911, 379/373.04, 379/373.03, 379/374.02
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability

Abstract

A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system includes a memory capable of storing a plurality of ringing tones, where the plurality of ringing tones includes at least one set of at least two ringing tones associated with at least one event. The terminal also includes a controller capable of choosing a ringing tone from the set(s) of ringing tones based upon a predefined selection criteria, such as based upon a random search criteria or a sequential search criteria. The controller is further capable of generating signals directed to an output reproduction device that is capable of generating the chosen ringing tone in response to the terminal receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone.

Claims

1. A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the terminal comprises:

a memory capable of storing a plurality of ringing tones, wherein the plurality of ringing tones includes at least one set of at least two ringing tones, and wherein the at least one set of ringing tones is associated with at least one event; and

a controller capable of choosing a ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones, wherein said controller chooses the ringing tone based upon a predefined selection criteria, wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to an output reproduction device that is capable of reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to the terminal receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone, and wherein said controller is capable of choosing another ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones after the output reproduction device reproduces the ringing tone that was previously chosen by said controller.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the other ringing tone is different from the ringing tone that was previously chosen by said controller.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is capable of receiving another event, and wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to the output reproduction device in response to the terminal receiving the other event such that the output reproduction device is capable of reproducing the other ringing tone.

4. A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the terminal comprises:

a memory capable of storing a plurality of tinging tones, wherein the plurality of ringing tones includes at least one set of at least two ringing tones, wherein the at least one set of tinging tones is associated with at least one event, and wherein at least one of the at least one event is one originating with at least one identifiable source; and

a controller capable of choosing a ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones, wherein said controller chooses the ringing tone based upon a predefined selection criteria, wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to an output reproduction device that is capable of reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to the terminal receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone, wherein said controller is capable of determining information regarding the event, and wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to the output reproduction device that is capable of reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to the terminal receiving the event originating with the at least one identifiable source as determined from information regarding the event.

5. A method of reproducing a ringing tone of a terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the method comprises:

choosing a ringing tone from at least one set of ringing tones based upon a predefined selection criteria, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones includes at least two ringing tones, and wherein the at least one set of ringing tones is associated with at least one event;

reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone; and

choosing another ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones, wherein choosing another ringing tone occurs after reproducing the ringing tone that was previously chosen.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein choosing another ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone different from the ringing tone that was previously chosen.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising receiving another event and thereafter generating the other ringing tone in response to receiving the other event.

8. A method of reproducing a ringing tone of a terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the method comprises:

choosing a ringing tone from at least one set of ringing tones based upon a predefined selection criteria, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones includes at least two ringing tones, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones is associated with at least one event, and wherein the at least one of the at least one event is one originating with at least one identifiable source; and

reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to receiving an event associated with the at least one set of ringing tones including the chosen ringing tone, wherein reproducing the chosen ringing tone comprises reproducing the chosen ringing tone in response to receiving the event originating with the at least one identifiable source as determined from information regarding the event.

9. A terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the terminal comprises:

a memory capable of storing a plurality of ringing tones, wherein the plurality of ringing tones includes at least one set of at least two ringing tones;

a controller capable of choosing a ringing tone from at least one set of ringing tones in response to the terminal receiving an event, wherein the ringing tone is chosen based upon a predefined selection criteria, and wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to an output reproduction device that is capable of reproducing the chosen ringing tone; and

wherein the terminal is capable of receiving another event, wherein said controller is capable of choosing another ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones in response to receiving the other event, and wherein said controller is capable of generating signals directed to the output reproduction device that is capable of reproducing the other ringing tone.

10. A terminal according to claim 9, wherein the other ringing tone is different from the ringing tone previously chosen by said controller.

11. A terminal according to claim 9, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones is associated with an event originating with at least one identifiable source, wherein said controller is capable of determining information regarding the event before choosing a ringing tone, wherein choosing a ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones in response to the terminal receiving the event originating with the at least one identifiable source as determined from the information regarding the event.

12. A method of reproducing a ringing tone of a terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the method comprises:

choosing a ringing tone from at least one set of ringing tones based upon a random selection criteria, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones includes at least two ringing tones from a plurality of ringing tones, and wherein choosing a ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone in response to receiving an event;

reproducing the chosen ringing tone; and

receiving another event and thereafter choosing another ringing tone from the at least one set of ringing tones in response to receiving the other event, wherein reproducing the ringing tone comprises reproducing the other ringing tone.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein choosing another ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone different from the ringing tone that was previously chosen.

14. A method of reproducing a ringing tone of a terminal adapted to communicate via a communications system, wherein the method comprises:

choosing a ringing tone from at least one set of ringing tones based upon a predefined selection criteria, wherein the at least one set of ringing tones includes at least two ringing tones from a plurality of ringing tones, wherein choosing a ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone in response to receiving an event, wherein the event is one originating with at least one identifiable source, and wherein choosing a ringing tone comprises choosing a ringing tone in response to receiving the event originating with the at least one identifiable source as determined from information regarding the event; and

reproducing the chosen ringing tone.