Ring that matters
OwnerDanny Eugene White JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An enhanced ringer service is described wherein subscribers are allowed to assign, via a menu, distinctive rings to telephone numbers of one or more callers. The enhanced ringer service is implemented via a subscriber interface server and a class 5 switch. Subscribers are able to interact, via a phone menu, with the customer user interface server and assign particular ringer types for incoming calls from one or more callers.
Claims13
A system for associating distinctive rings with one or more callers, said system comprising:
- a. a subscriber interface server storing, for each subscriber, information identifying one or more callers and pre-set ringer types associated with each of said callers, wherein said ringer types are pre-set via a menu-based interface available via said subscriber interface server;
- and
- b. a telephony system communicating with said subscriber interface server and associating incoming callers with any pre-set ringer type and rendering any of said pre-set ringer type to said subscriber.
A system as per claim 4, wherein said telecommunication equipment is any of the following:
- analog telephone, digital telephone, portable telephone, WAP-enabled telephone, cellular telephone, or Internet-based telephone.
A method, as implemented in a subscriber interface server, for associating distinctive ringer types with one or more callers, said subscriber interface server maintaining for each subscriber, one or more identifiers and associated pre-set ringer types, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. identifying an incoming request for a communication session from a caller to a subscriber;
- b. identifying, in said subscriber interface server, any pre-set ringer types associated with said caller;
- and
- c. rendering any identified pre-set ringer type to said subscriber.
Computer readable program code for associating distinctive ringer types with one or more callers, said subscriber interface server maintaining for each subscriber, one or more identifiers and associated pre-set ringer types, said code comprising the steps of:
- a. identifying an incoming request for a communication session from a caller to a subscriber;
- b. identifying, in said subscriber interface server, any pre-set ringer types associated with said caller;
- and
- c. rendering said pre-set ringer type to said subscriber.
A method, as implemented in a subscriber interface server, for associating distinctive ringer types with one or more callers, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. in an associating mode:
- i. establishing a communication link with a subscriber;
- ii. receiving instructions via an interface for associating one or more telephone numbers with one or more ringer types;
- and
- iii. associating said one or more telephone numbers with one or more ringer types, and
- b. in a rendering mode:
- i. identifying an incoming request for a communication session from a caller to said subscriber;
- ii. identifying, in said subscriber interface server, any ringer types associated with said caller;
- and
- iii. rendering said identified ringer type to said subscriber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.