System and method for providing audible messages in replacement of telephone tones

• US 8,194,849 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bosan, Sorel, Zima, Janice
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US12/394,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/76, 379/373.02, 379/374.02, 379/374.01, 379/31, 379/283
• US Class Current: 379/373.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method for providing at least one audible message at a communication device in replacement of a pre-determined telephone tone. There is provided a tone detector interface for detecting the pre-determined telephone tone provided at the communication device; an audible messages database accessible to the tone detector interface and the communication device, the audible messages database storing the audible messages; and a tone replacement module in communication with the tone detector interface. The tone replacement module, in response to detecting the pre-determined telephone tone, may provide the audible message in replacement of the pre-determined telephone tone.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for providing a plurality of audible messages at a call-initiating communication device, the system comprising:

a tone detector interface for detecting a ring tone provided at the communication device;

an audible messages database accessible to the tone detector interface and the communication device, the audible messages database storing the plurality of audible messages;

a tone replacement module in communication with the tone detector interface, the tone replacement module providing the plurality of audible messages in replacement of a customized plurality of rings generated at a call-recipient communication device, each one of the plurality of audible messages being provided in replacement of a respective one of the customized plurality of rings; and

a voice detector for detecting a voice generated at a called recipient phone number, wherein, in response to detecting the voice generated, the tone replacement module is configured to terminate providing the audible messages.

2. A call-initiating communication device comprising:

a tone detector interface for detecting a pre-determined telephone tone provided at the communication device;

a tone replacement module in communication with the tone detector interface, the tone replacement module providing a plurality of audible messages in replacement of a customized plurality of rings generated at a call-recipient communication device, each one of the plurality of audible messages being provided in replacement of a respective one of the customized plurality of rings, wherein the plurality of audible messages is stored within an audible messages database accessible to the communication device; and

a voice detector for detecting a voice generated at a called recipient number, wherein, in response to detecting the voice generated, the tone replacement module is configured to terminate providing the plurality of audible messages.

3. A computer implemented method for providing a plurality of audible messages at a call-initiating communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, at a tone detector interface, a ring tone provided at the communication device;

replacing, at a tone replacement module, a customized plurality of ring tones generated at a call-recipient communication device with the plurality of audible messages, each one of the plurality of audible messages being provided in replacement of a respective one of the customized plurality of ring tones;

detecting a voice generated at a called recipient phone number; and

terminating, in response to detecting the voice generated at the called recipient number, the providing of the plurality of audible messages.

4. A computer implemented method for providing a plurality of audible messages at a call-initiating communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, at a tone detector interface, a ring tone provided at the communication device;

replacing, at a tone replacement module, a customized plurality of ring tones generated at a call-recipient communication device with the plurality of audible messages, each one of the plurality of audible messages being provided in replacement of a respective one of the customized plurality of ring tones; and

generating and playing at least one audible message until the tone detector interface detects a call recipient voice.