Abstract: A system for playing a color ring back tone (CRBT) based on a user's state presence information including the network element devices of: a HLR, a calling user's MSC/VLR, a called user's MSC/VLR, a CRBT control server, and a state presence server. A method for playing a CRBT based on a user's state presence information includes: providing a state presence server in a communication system which includes a CRBT control server; establishing a physical connection channel, and defining an information interface between the CRBT control server and the state presence server; the CRBT control server obtaining the called user's current state information by exchanging information through the information interface; and the CRBT control server playing a corresponding CRBT based on the current state information of the called user and corresponding subscription information of the color ring back tone service when the user is called.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a custom ring tone in connection with a call. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a communication system, an indication to provide a customized ring tone associated with a call to a callee device. The method further includes delivering at least a portion of the customized ring tone to the callee device from the communication system when the callee device is determined to be operable to output the customized ring tone.

Abstract: A method for connecting a calling terminal to a called terminal includes establishing a first session to a video server and a call connection request to the called terminal, receiving ringback tone (RBT) video data from the video server using the established first session during a waiting time before a response from the called terminal for the request is received, generating a setup flag to set a connection environment with the called terminal to perform a fast setup between the calling terminal and the called terminal, and transmitting the generated setup flag to the called terminal through a second session established by the called terminal. A system to perform the method includes an establishing unit to establish the first session, an RBT video data receiving unit to receive the RBT video data, a setup flag generating unit, and a setup flag transmitting unit.

Abstract: An application server that provides RBT treatment to a caller and simultaneously notifies the called party, as subscriber of the service facilitated by the present invention, of an incoming call, whereby the called party is able to select a treatment for the call to be presented to the caller based on input collected from the called party on a real-time basis.

Abstract: An electronic device, referred to as a beacon gateway, capable of communicating an incoming call on one phone to a second phone operating on a different telecommunications network is described herein. A landline phone, voice-over-Internet-protocol phone (VOIP phone), cable phone, and mobile phone may be connected to the beacon gateway. When one of the phones receives an incoming call, the beacon gateway rings the other phones with ring tones indicative of the receiving phone. Additionally, a user can elect to make a phone call across one network (e.g., wireless) from a phone that communicates calls across a different network (e.g., landline). Moreover, a thin client operating in a mobile device is configured to handle communicating inbound calls and outgoing calls on mobile device to other phones connected to the beacon gateway.

Abstract: A method for implementing the ringback tone (RBT) service based on the next generation network (NGN) includes: an application server (AS) receives from a softswitch (SX) a call request initiated by a ring-to-me subscriber, which carries a ring-to-me access code; the AS obtains the ring-to-me tone ID from the RBT platform according to the ring-to-me access code and instructs a media resource server (MRS) to play the tone indicated by the ring-to-me tone ID to the calling party. Various embodiments disclose a system, an AS and an MRS for implementing RBT based on NGN. The present disclosure enables a calling party to listen to a ring-to-me tone while the called party is alerted and further, it enables the calling party to choose to listen to a ring-to-me tone or a ring-to-you tone according to the calling party's precedence setting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for adjusting a ring tone volume in a mobile communication terminal. The method implements a function by which a user can directly adjust the ring tone volume in a mobile communication terminal in consideration of circumstances. To this end, the present invention includes a user interface screen by which a user can adjust the output volume level of the ring tone which rings according to the passage of time. Thus, the present invention provides a user interface screen by which a user can adjust the output volume level of a ring tone which rings according to the passage of time, and enables the user to set the output level of the ring tone and the output time of the ring tone at a corresponding level according to predetermined intervals through the screen.

Abstract: A panel has been provided to a wireless device that turns off all RF capability of the wireless device (including, but not limited to notifications, wireless web clipping, instant messaging, email sending/receiving, phone calls, etc.). The panel is brought up on a screen of the wireless device by pressing a programmed hard button for more than 1 second. Once the RF capability has been turned off, if the user attempts to access a program or other device that requires the RF capabilities, a notification is displayed that identifies the RF capabilities as being disabled and prompts the user whether to continue. If the user continues, the RF device is automatically enabled, otherwise the RF device remains disabled.

Abstract: A system for providing multimedia ring back for a voice-call is disclosed. The system may include an MMRB for VC control module and a network access module operatively connected to the MMRB. The network access module is adapted to interface the MMRB with external network components. The MMRB is responsive to indication that a caller is inviting a callee to join a voice-call wherein the caller and/or the callee is subscribed to an MMRB for VC service. The MMRB is responsive to indication that the callee received an invitation message and is now pending acceptance of the voice-call, for causing the caller to adapt its media-specification for the ongoing voice-call establishment process to a media-specification that is compatible with multimedia-content communication, thereby enabling a multimedia-content communication with the caller during at least a portion of the ongoing voice-call establishment process.

Abstract: Overriding a ring back signal involves receiving a ring back signal at a communications apparatus from a communication network in response to a user-initiated connection request. The ring back signal is rendered to a user of the communications apparatus, and a user input is received at the communications device to override the ring back signal. An alternate output is rendered to the user in place of the ring back signal.

Abstract: Automated unique call announcements for incoming telephone calls are provided. When a call is received at a mobile or wired telephone, a variety of data about the calling party, for example, caller identification and profile data for the calling party and data associated with the called party, for example, scheduling data, contacts data, and contextual data, such as time of day, may be used for generating a text-to-speech message that may be played to the called party as a unique call announcement. If desired, a standard or customized ring tone may be played before, after, or before and after presentation of the unique call announcement. In addition, voice command functionality may be provided for allowing a called party to direct a disposition of an incoming telephone call without answering the incoming telephone call.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing and routing calls are described. A call processing system receives from a telecommunications system a communication indicating that a first call to a user is in progress. A call routing instruction associated with the user is accessed. Based at least in part on the call routing instruction, a second call to be placed to a first telephonic device and a third call to be placed to a second telephonic device, wherein the second call and the third call are placed at substantially the same time or a second call to be placed to a first telephonic device and a third call to be placed to a second telephonic device, wherein the third call is placed if the second call is not timely answered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of providing an early media service based on a session initiation protocol (SIP), wherein early media of a multimedia form can be provided under SIP-based B2BUA mode operation. According to the present invention, in a case where early media are provided to an originating terminal when a call connection with a terminating terminal is established at the request of the originating terminal, the early media is provided in the form of multimedia data, such as text, image, moving image, flash animation and the like, as well as audio data, and thus users desires are fulfilled and users satisfactions are maximized.

Abstract: A communication device having an answering system sets task names, task schedule times of one or more tasks, predetermined ring settings when an incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, and setting predetermined recorded message. The answering system is configured for determining if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, ringing using the predetermined ring setting if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times, replying to the incoming call with the predetermined recorded message if the incoming call is received during one of the task schedule times and if the incoming call has not been answered.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products determine ring tones to be applied to calls. A called party may configure different ring tones that annunciate calls for different types of calls from calling numbers. A network database determines a type of each call and annunciates the corresponding ringtone to a called party.

Abstract: Request information received by a call handler system specifies multiple acceptable call connection encoding options or formats for communicating with a caller. The call handler system forwards the multiple acceptable call connection encoding options to a called destination. The called destination responds with a selection of a first call connection option from the multiple call connection options. The call handler system selects a second call connection option for providing a ring-back tone to the caller while waiting for the called destination to answer his phone. During the wait, the call handler system provides a ring-back tone to the caller via the second call connection encoding option. Upon detection of the called destination answering his phone, the call handler system discontinues playback of the ring-back tone and notifies the caller to communicate with the called destination via the first call connection encoding option as selected by the called destination.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that utilize a set of heuristics to more intelligently determine when to utilize an audible tone associated with a notification profile or other mechanism used to alert a user of events such as an incoming instant message. The heuristics employed consider the layering of the message screens for the corresponding conversations, in combination with one or more device usage indicators such as the status of the backlight, the idle timer, and the orientation of the mobile device 10A itself as indicated by the orientation sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method and system for providing a ring back tone service by using a play announcement message in an intelligent network. According to the present invention, there is no need for separate apparatus such as a signaling gateway, by removing the interoperation between a service control point and a coloring server. Thus, there is an advantage that additional cost does not occur.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which an indication of a telephone call being placed from a calling number is received, and a determination is made of an audio advertisement to play based on the calling number. The audio advertisement is played based on the determination.

Abstract: A recipient activates or deactivates user alerts associated with the receipt and/or availability of communications using rules in an alert profile stored on a device, a server, or a location accessible to the server. In one embodiment, the device can implement the rules when a communication is received and/or available. If an alert is activated, the device renders the alert. If the alert is deactivated, the device does not render the alert unless and until the alert is activated. In another embodiment, the server can implement the rules. If the alert is activated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server also transmits alert-rendering instructions, whereupon the device can render the alert as specified in the instructions. If the alert is deactivated when the communication is transmitted to the device, the server does not transmit the instructions unless and until the alert is activated.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing a ring tone. A communication is processed from a calling number to a called number. An electronic database is queried for the calling number, and contact information associated with the calling number is retrieved. A ring tone database is queried for the contact information, and the ring tone database stores an association between the contact information and a ring tone. The ring tone associated with the contact information is retrieved and processed to alert the called number to the communication from the calling number.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing customized ring-back tones to callers on a wireline network such as a public switched telephone network having an advanced intelligent network or a VoIP network. When a call request is received from a calling party to connect to a called party through a wireline telephone network it is determined if the calling party is identified in a screening list for the called party. If so, then a customized audible ring-back tone is played to the calling party until the called party is connected to the calling party or until the call request is terminated.

Abstract: Overriding a ring back signal involves receiving a ring back signal at a communications apparatus from a communication network in response to a user-initiated connection request. The ring back signal is rendered to a user of the communications apparatus, and a user input is received at the communications device to override the ring back signal. An alternate output is rendered to the user in place of the ring back signal.

Abstract: A ringtone system is provided to a called party that wishes to have a particular ringtone annunciated for each of several types of calls from calling parties. In the ringtone system, for a call from a calling party, the calling party is prompted to identify the type of the call. The type of the call is received from the calling party, and if no type is received, the call is typed in a particular manner. A list of types of calls with respect to and as specified by the called party is maintained, where each type of call on the list has a corresponding ringtone specified therefor. The typed call is processed by determining from the list of types of calls for the called party the corresponding ringtone specified for the typed call, and by putting the call through to the called party with the determined ringtone.

Abstract: A method for playing a Ring Back Tone (RBT) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is disclosed. The method includes: after the network receives an RBT playing request, obtaining the current status information of the called user; determining an RBT ID corresponding to the called user ID and the current status information of the called user according to the corresponding relationship; and playing the RBT to the calling user. A system and Multimedia Ring Back Tone Application Server (MRBT AS) for playing an RBT in the IMS network are also provided. An RBT may be selected and played to the calling user according to the current status of the called user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for playing a Ring Back Tone are provided, and the method includes: determining, according to a call request initiated by a calling party, whether a called party has customized a called-party Ring Back Tone service; further determining, if the called party has customized a called-party Ring Back Tone service, whether the calling party has customized a Ring Back Tone; and playing, if the calling party has customized a Ring Back Tone, a ring tone to the calling party, according to the Ring Back Tone customized by the calling party. According to the above technical solution, the calling party can accurately receive the ring tone selected by the calling party himself in the case that the called party has customized a Ring Back Tone service.

Abstract: In one embodiment, interworking procedures between H.323 and SIP ensure that in-band tones and announcements, along with local and remote ringback, are properly played or generated.

Abstract: An integrated VoIP phone that seamlessly integrates POTS phones and IP phones is provided. In an embodiment, the integrated VoIP phone includes a Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”) registrar, a SIP session border control (“SBC”), a SIP proxy, a SIP feature server, a SIP-PSTN gateway, a user interface and VoIP telephony functionality found in traditional VoIP phones. In an embodiment, the integrated VoIP phone includes one or more analog telephone adaptors. Other VoIP entities, such as FXS adaptors, register themselves with the integrated VoIP phone through the SIP SBC. These other entities appear as extensions on the integrated VoIP phone and the outside network will only directly communicated with the integrated VoIP phone.

Abstract: A ringback tone is played to a calling party on a call to a called party. Identification information of the ringback tone is stored, upon receipt of a bookmark request from the calling party, for later access by the calling party to the ringback tone and/or information related to the ringback tone.

Abstract: The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a method for replicating ring back tone (RBT). In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of sending a Play and Collect request to a media resource server (MRS) by an application server (AS), playing an RBT subscribed by the called party to the calling party and obtaining a Replicate RBT request initiated by the calling party according to the Play and Collect request by the MRS, receiving the Replicate RBT request obtained and sent by the MRS, by the AS, and sending a Replicate RBT command to an RBT platform according to the received Replicate RBT request by the AS, the Replicate RBT command carrying RBT replication information and instructing the RBT platform to replicate the requested RBT to an information library of the calling party. The invention also relates to a system and apparatus for implementing same.

Abstract: A method of providing a ringback tone to a calling party. The method includes receiving a call directed to a subscriber from the calling party. At least one of an adaptive ringback tone and an actionable ringback tone is provided to the calling party. The adaptive ringback tone is based on state data.

Abstract: A method for playing a local ringback tone is disclosed. A second party device is called from a calling party device. An alert message indicating that the calling party device is to play a network ringback tone is received. It is determined whether to play a pre-stored local ringback tone instead of the network ringback tone. The local ringback tone or the network ringback tone is played based on the determination. At any time before call connection or call release, the local ringback tone and the network ringback tone are switched between based on user input.

Abstract: A ring tone service is provided to a called party upon receiving a call from a calling party at a device of the called party, where the device annunciates the call according to a particular ring tone as determined by the called party. A network-based call control manager receives a notification that the calling party is calling the called party, and the call control manager queries a network-based ring tone manager to determine the particular ring tone. The ring tone manager notifies the call control manager of the determined ring tone, and the call control manager sets up the call to be annunciated at the device of the called party according to the determined ring tone.

Abstract: A method for playing an enterprise color ringback tone is disclosed, including the following steps: establishing, by a service switching entity, a connection with a service access entity in accordance with an EVC access code; searching, by the service access entity, for a connection identifier of a destination terminal corresponding to a service identifier of the destination terminal in accordance with a correspondence relationship between the service identifier and the connection identifier of the terminal, and sending the connection identifier of the destination terminal to the service switching entity; and establishing, by the service switching entity, a connection between the source terminal and the destination terminal in accordance with the connection identifier of the destination terminal, and playing an enterprise CRBT to the source terminal. A system and a device for playing an enterprise color ringback tone are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ring-back tone generator system provides a customized ring-back tone to a calling party (attempting to reach a called party) while the ring-back tone generator system participates in alerting the called party of the call connection request. Upon acceptance of the call connection by the called party answering his phone, the ring-back tone generator system can temporarily bridge the caller party with the called party. After at least temporarily providing the bridge, the ring-back tone generator system communicates with a remote phone switch system for purposes of offloading the bridge to a remote device that instead provides the bridge between the caller and the called party. Accordingly, the ring-back tone generator system can participate in a process of providing a customized ring-back tone to a caller, initiate alerting of a called party of the call, bridging a call, and a handing off a call.

Abstract: Ringtone management devices, systems, and methods for supporting contacts across communication access systems are provided herein. In one embodiment, the communication access system may be an enterprise access system. The communication access system can allow a plurality of different client devices in the enterprise access system, each associated with a particular set of incoming caller identifiers, to all be rung with an outgoing ringtone that identifies the incoming caller. In this manner, a user is provided with a consistent ringtone at each of the user's devices that identifies a particular incoming caller.

Abstract: An origination terminal initiates a call by providing a third party call control message in association with a traffic channel request. While the traffic channel is being established, the service node may initiate third party call control to initiate a call leg to the destination terminal on behalf of the origination terminal. As such, the destination call leg is initiated earlier. Since the destination call leg is initiated earlier, a corresponding ringback message indicating that a call is being presented to the called party is provided to the origination terminal sooner. When the ringback message is received quickly, a corresponding ringback indication may be presented to the caller in less time than was previously possible. The process is made even more efficient by waiting until the ringback message is received from the destination terminal before providing the SDP information, or communication information, for the origination terminal to the destination terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking a ring-back signal comprising the following steps, time synchronizing a first device and a second device, causing an event by requesting the configuration of a ring-back signal with and for the first device at a specific time stamp and capturing the time stamp and the event in a first log file, calling the first device with the second device at a specific time stamp, recording the ring-back signal of the first device, comparing the ring-back signal with at least one reference signal yielding a comparison result, and capturing the time stamp and the comparison result in a second log file, and comparing the second log file with the first log file.

Abstract: A device for intelligently adjusting a volume level for call/message alerts includes a processor, an interface(s), a memory, a timer and a volume adjuster. The processor receives a call(s)/message(s) and causes the memory to store data associated with the call(s)/message(s). The processor invokes a timer and instructs a ringer to generate a call/message alert. The processor receives an additional call(s)/message(s) and determines if these calls/messages are sent from the same user of an electronic device as a previous call/message within a time period. If a previous call/message was missed by a user of a terminal, the processor causes a ringer to increase the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device. If a previous call/message was rejected by a user of a terminal, the processor causes the ringer to decrease the volume of a subsequent call/message sent from the user of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering an advertisement as a ringback tones (RBT) for telephone, mobile phone, or voice over internet protocol (VOIP) systems may include providing data exchanging means between a telephone exchange system or a mobile switching center through use of an web service coded in extendable markup language (XML), simple object access protocol (SOAP), or binary data for playing of the advertisement as ringback tones, reconciliation against an advertising campaign, and payment to subscribers of the advertisement as ringback tones. A subscriber may sign up for delivery of the advertisement as ringback tones, may choose one or more types of the advertisement as a ringback tone, and may place and enable the one or more types of the advertisement as a ringback tone in a jukebox or a playback lineup. The subscriber can store any of the advertisements as ringback tones, whereby calling parties placing calls to the subscriber hear the advertisements as a ringback tone.

Abstract: A method for realizing the universal personal number ring back tone service comprises: determining the ring back tone played according to the called information, and determining the media resources for playing the ring back tone according to the calling information, the media resources information and the said ring back tone information; the said media resource plays the said ring back tone. The present invention also discloses a device and a system for realizing the universal personal number ring back tone service. On the basis of the present invention, UPT users are supported to assign the different ring back tone for each destination number, respectively, and the ring back tone information of each media resource is dynamically updated in accordance with the using situation of the ring back tone, therefore realizing that the UPT ring back tone service utilizes the network resources effectively.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for selectively playing received ringtones. Receipt at a communication device of an incoming voice call that includes a ringtone is detected. A ringtone preselected for the communication device is played in response to receiving the incoming call. Prior to receiving input for answering the call at the communication device, user input for one of playing and not playing the received ringtone at the communication device is received. The received ringtone is played or not played based on the received user input.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, a system, and an apparatus for providing a sound source, which has been encoded by using an audio codec, as a ringback tone alternative having an improved quality by adaptively applying various audio codecs according to the service type so that, when a mobile communication terminal is provided with a ringback tone alternative by separately applying an audio codec and a voice codec to a ringback tone provision section and a voice communication section, respectively, it is unnecessary to individually and additionally change or modify a number of devices in a mobile communication network, but a specific device in an intelligent network controls other devices based on overall consideration of the ability of the mobile communication terminal, the type of the ringback tone alternative, etc.

Abstract: An approach is provided for providing custom ringback services. The approach includes prompting a user for content as part of a managed ringback service. The content is received from the user, and is set as a ringback. An identifier corresponding to the ringback is received from the user, wherein the identifier is associated with a caller.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing a ring back to a calling party's communications device. A first call is placed to a called number. An identification sequence is received during the first call. When the first call ends, a second call is placed to a server. The identification sequence is sent to the server during the second call, and the ring back associated with the identification sequence is received. The ring back is stored in memory of the calling party's communications device and retrieved when subsequent calls are made to the called number. The ring back is then presented on the calling party's communications device to indicate the called number is ringing.

Abstract: A method, phone, and system for answering phone calls in such a manner as to limit or otherwise ameliorate interruptions to a called party and others in an environment of the called party. The answering optionally including silently answering the phone call with a message instead of requiring the called party to verbally communicate with a calling party.

Abstract: An opt-out request in one example is received from a calling party to avoid employment of a specialized ringback tone on one or more subsequent calls from the calling party to a called party. A ringback tone call controller determines, based on the opt-out request, to provide a substitute tone to the calling party in place of the specialized ringback tone on the one or more subsequent calls from the calling party to the called party. After receiving the opt-out request on a call, the specialized ringback tone in a further example is stopped for a remainder of a ringing phase of the call. If a ringback tone service state associated with the calling party is an opt-out state, then in one example the calling party makes an opt-in request to allow use of the specialized ringback tone on one or more subsequent calls to the called party.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing multimedia content to a calling party device. Specifically, the method comprises receiving a multimedia ringback service request in response to a connection request for establishing a connection between the calling party device and a called party device, determining an address associated with the calling party device in response to the multimedia ringback service request, identifying the multimedia content associated with the multimedia ringback service request, and establishing at least one multimedia session with the calling party device using the address where the at least one multimedia session is operable for providing the multimedia content towards the calling party device contemporaneously with establishing the connection.

Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method for the viral distribution of ringback media. A trigger is transmitted from a calling client station to a ringback server during the ringback period of call setup, whereby in response to receipt of the trigger by the ringback server, the subscriber associated with the calling client station is granted the right to the particular ringback media played out during the ringback period. Upon receiving the trigger, the ringback server may request that an indication that the right has been granted be stored in the subscriber's account record. Subsequent to the granting of the right to the particular ringback media to the subscriber, callers to the subscriber may be presented with the particular ringback. Further, these callers may also request to acquire the right to the particular media via the same trigger-initiated process.