Method and apparatus for providing ringtone scheduling

• US 8,615,224 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ericson, Eric W. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US11/617,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,552 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/404.2, 340/573.1, 379/142.01, 379/211, 709/207
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

An approach is provided for scheduling of ringtones. A ringtone schedule is stored for specifying information for invoking a plurality of ringtones, wherein one of the ringtones is selected for playout by a mobile device according to the ringtone schedule.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

automatically playing a particular ringtone in a communication device of a callee-user when receiving a call from a caller after;

receiving a ringtone schedule through a web application over a data network from said callee-user, to enable said playing of said particular ringtone for said callee-user;

storing, by said callee-user, said received ringtone schedule in said communication device, said schedule specifying a group of parameters to a plurality of ringtones;

automatically invoking one of said ringtones corresponding to said particular ringtone based on certain parameters selected from said group of said parameters consisting of location of said callee-user, time of day, day of week, type of said caller, priority of said call and origin of said call; and

receiving an external control signal from a source other than said caller or said callee-user when said location of said callee-user is a particular location and location of said source is also said particular location, said external control signal controlling said particular ringtone to be an influenced ringtone compatible with said particular location while said callee-user is at said particular location and said control signal allowing said influenced ringtone to return to said particular ringtone when said location of said callee-user is no longer said particular location.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a mobile device configured to establish a voice connection.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the ringtone schedule through an input device of the mobile device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the location is determined by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a communication device of a callee-user automatically playing a particular ringtone when receiving a call from a caller, said communication device comprising;

a memory configured to store a ringtone schedule received through a web application over a data network from said callee-user, to enable said playing of said particular ringtone for said callee-user, said ringtone schedule specifying a group of parameters for a plurality of ringtones;

a ringtone scheduler configured to automatically select one of the ringtones corresponding to said particular ringtone for playout based on certain parameters selected from said group of parameters consisting of location of said callee-user, time of day, day of week, type of said caller, priority of said call and origin of said call and to receive an external control signal from a source other than said caller or said callee-user when said location of said callee-user is a particular location and location of said source is also said particular location, said external control signal controlling said particular ringtone to be an influenced ringtone compatible with said particular location while said callee-user is at said particular location and said control signal allowing said influenced ringtone to return to said particular ringtone when said location of said callee-user is no longer said particular location; and

an audio interface configured to playout the selected or influenced ringtone.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive the ringtone schedule.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive the ringtone schedule as input to said memory through a web-application over a data network.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a locator configured to determine location of the apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the location is determined by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

10. A system comprising:

a database configured to store a ringtone schedule, received from a user of a mobile device capable of receiving a call from a caller, said schedule specifying a group of parameters for a plurality of ringtones, said ringtone schedule received through a web application over a data network from said user to enable playing of one of said plurality of ringtones for said user; and

a processor configured to automatically select said one of the ringtones for playout by said mobile device based on certain parameters selected front said group of parameters consisting of location of said user, time of day, day of week, type of said caller, priority of said call and origin of said call and to receive an external control signal from a source other than said caller or said user when said location of said user is a particular location and location of said source is also said particular location, said external control signal controlling said selected ringtone to be an influenced ringtone compatible with said particular location while said user is at said particular location and said control signal allowing said influenced ringtone to return to said selected ringtone when said location of said user is no longer said particular location.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an interface configured to receive the ringtone schedule through an input device of the mobile device.

12. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an interface configured to receive the ringtone schedule through a web-application over a data network.

13. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

an interface configured to receive Location of the mobile device.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the location is determined by using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a ringtone schedule through a web application over a data network from a callee-user to enable playing, for said callee-user, a particular ringtone selected from a plurality of ringtones in a said schedule;

automatically changing a current ringtone in a callee-user'"'"'s mobile device to said particular ringtone provided by said callee-user when receiving a call from a caller, said particular ringtone being suitable to a schedule of said user, said suitability based on certain parameters selected from a group of parameters consisting of location of said callee-user, time of day,day of week, type of said caller, priority of said call and origin of said call; and

receiving an external control signal from a source other than said caller or said callee-user when said callee-user is located within a restricted ringtone-usage environment and said source is also located within said environment, said external control signal controlling said particular ringtone to be influenced ringtone compatible with said environment while said caller-user is within said environment and said control signal allowing said influenced ringtone to return to said particular ringtone when said caller-user is no longer within said environment.