Method and apparatus for selectively providing messages in telecommunications systems

• US 7,852,995 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Callertone Innovations, LLC (Patrick J. Curry)
• Original Assignee: Network Directory Sciences, LLC (Innovation Management Sciences, LLC)
• Inventors: Strietzel, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quynh H
• Application Number:
  US12/768,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.12, 379/114.05, 379/114.13
• US Class Current: 379/93.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A telecommunications advertising means is disclosed. The telecommunication advertising means includes an advertisement database coupled to a processing means. The advertisement database stores subscriber specific or third party advertisements that are selectively associated with communications in a telecommunications network. The selective association is carried out by the processing means. In one embodiment, a router is coupled to the advertisement database. The router routes communications from source to destination within the telecommunications network. The router also routes advertisements that have been associated with the communications to the sources and destinations of the communications. A telecommunications system is also disclosed. The telecommunications system comprises a network subsystem, which includes a telecommunications advertising means. The telecommunications advertising means comprises an advertisement database and a processing means.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system configured to replace or overlay a signal normally routed to the source of a communication when the communication is initiated by the source with an audio message, the telecommunications system comprising:

a message database that stores subscriber specific or third party audio messages; and

a processor coupled with the message database, the processor configured to;

classify the source of the communication, wherein classification of the source of the communication is based at least in part on identifying information associated with the source, the identifying information including at least one of a telephone number associated with the incoming communication and an area code associated with the incoming communication;

select an audio message based on the classification and based on an association between the source and the selected audio message, the association made by a user associated with the destination of the communication;

send the selected audio message to the source of the communication, the destination of the communication, or both, such that the audio message can be played to the source, the destination, or both, before the destination responds to the communication; and

cause the audio message to stop playing when the destination responds to the communication.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the destination is available, and if the destination in not available, then to not send the audio message to the source.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the signal normally routed to the source is a ringback signal.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to replace the entire ringback signal with the audio message.

5. The telecommunications system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to replace a portion of the ringback signal with the audio message.

6. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select a different message from the message database and send it to the source when the selected audio message is sent to the destination.

7. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the audio message is an advertisement.

8. A telecommunications system configured to replace or overlay a signal normally routed to the source of a communication when the communication is initiated by the source with an audio message, the telecommunications system comprising:

a message database that stores subscriber specific or third party audio messages; and

a processor coupled with the message database, the processor configured to;

select an audio message based on an association between the source and the selected audio message, the association made by a user associated with the destination of the communication, wherein the audio message is selected based at least in part on identifying information associated with the source, the identifying information including at least one of a telephone number associated with the incoming communication and an area code associated with the incoming communication;

send the selected audio message to the source of the communication, the destination of the communication, or both, such that the audio message can be played to the source, the destination, or both; and

cause the audio message to stop playing when the destination responds to the communication.

9. The telecommunications system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the destination is available, and if the destination in not available, then to not send the audio message to the source.

10. The telecommunications system of claim 8, wherein the signal normally routed to the source is a ringback signal.

11. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to replace the entire ringback signal with the audio message.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to replace a portion of the ringback signal with the audio message.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to select a different message from the message database and send it to the source when the selected audio message is sent to the destination.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 8, wherein the audio message is an advertisement.

15. A telecommunications system configured to replace or overlay a signal normally routed to the source of a communication when the communication is initiated by the source with an audio message, the telecommunications system comprising:

a message database that stores subscriber specific or third party audio messages; and

a processor coupled with the message database, the processor configured to;

classify the source of the communication, wherein classification of the source of the communication is based at least in part on identifying information associated with the source, the identifying information including at least one of a telephone number associated with the incoming communication and an area code associated with the incoming communication;

select an audio message based on the classification and based on an association between the source and the selected audio message, the association made by a user associated with the destination of the communication

determine whether the destination is available;

if the destination is available, then send the selected audio message to the source of the communication, the destination of the communication, or both, such that the audio message can be played to the source, the destination, or both;

if the destination is not available, then to not send the audio message to the source; and

cause the audio message to stop playing when the destination responds to the communication.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein the signal normally routed to the source is a ringback signal.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to replace the entire ringback signal with the audio message.

18. The telecommunications system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to replace a portion of the ringback signal with the audio message.

19. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to select a different message from the message database and send it to the source when the selected audio message is sent to the destination.

20. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein the audio message is an advertisement.