Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining properties of an output signal that notifies a user of an incoming message or call, based on information that is available to and associated with the user's telecommunications terminal. In particular, in the illustrative embodiment one or more properties of a motion movie piece, and or a music video piece. A video piece in entirety or in short, repeating or not repeating as a ring tone such as animated video, volume, tempo, pitch, rhythm, etc. are valued accordingly in value e.g. faster versus slower, louder versus softer, etc. One or more properties of animated video or text if selected are also varied accordingly.