Caller-controlled alerting signals
The present invention allows a caller to control how a called party is alerted when a call is presented to the called party. When initiating the call, the caller may select the desired alerting signal to be provided to the called party for the call. The call is routed toward the called party with a specific alerting request identifying the desired alerting signal. When the call is presented to the called party, the alerting signal provided to the called party is based on the specific alerting request. If the caller does not select a specific alerting signal, the call is presented in traditional fashion. The caller may select a desired alerting signal on a call-by-call basis.
1 . A method comprising:
in association with a caller initiating a call to a called party, receiving from the caller alerting indicia corresponding to a special alerting signal to be provided to the called party via a terminal of the called party; and
creating a call signaling message comprising a specific alerting request based on the alerting indicia; and
sending the call signaling message to initiate the call to the called party, wherein the call is presented to the called party using the special alerting signal.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein in association with the caller initiating a second call to the called party where no alerting indicia is provided by the caller, further comprising:
creating a second call signaling message; and
sending the second call signaling message to initiate the second call to the called party, wherein the second call is presented to the called party using a normal alerting signal instead of the special alerting signal.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the alerting indicia corresponds to one of a plurality of special alerting signals, such that the caller can select different special alerting signals to be provided to the called party based on the alerting indicia.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the alerting indicia is received directly from user input at a user terminal of the caller, and the call signaling message is created by and sent from the user terminal.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the alerting indicia is received from a user terminal of the caller, and the call signaling message is created by and sent from a call signaling entity in a communication network.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the alerting indicia is at least one of the group consisting of a prefix or suffix added to an address or directory number associated with the called party.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the alerting indicia is a special feature code provided in association with entering an address or dialing a directory number associated with the called party.
8 . The method of claim 5 wherein the call signaling entity is a telephony switch.
9 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one communication interface; and
a control system associated with the at least one communication interface and adapted to:
in association with a caller initiating a call to a called party, receive from the caller alerting indicia corresponding to a special alerting signal to be provided to the called party via a terminal of the called party; and
a create a call signaling message comprising a specific alerting request based on the alerting indicia; and
send the call signaling message to initiate the call to the called party, wherein the call is presented to the called party using the special alerting signal.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein in association with the caller initiating a second call to the called party where no alerting indicia is provided by the caller, the control system is further adapted to:
create a second call signaling message; and
send the second call signaling message to initiate the second call to the called party, wherein the second call is presented to the called party using a normal alerting signal instead of the special alerting signal.
11 . A method comprising:
in association with a caller initiating a call to a called party, receiving a call signaling message comprising a specific alerting request based on alerting indicia, which was originally provided by the caller in association with initiating the call, and corresponding to a special alerting signal to be provided to the called party when presented with the call;
identifying the special alerting signal based on the specific alerting request; and
effecting delivery of the special alerting signal to the called party to alert the called party of the call from the caller.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein in association with the caller initiating a second call to the called party where, no alerting indicia is provided by the caller, further comprising:
receiving a second call signaling message for the second call; and
effecting delivery of a normal alerting signal to the called party instead of the special alerting signal to alert the called party of the second call from the caller.
13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the alerting indicia corresponds to one of a plurality of special alerting signals, such that the caller can select different special alerting signals to be provided to the called party based on the alerting indicia.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the call signaling message is received at a user terminal of the called party, and the user terminal provides the special alerting signal directly to the called party.
15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the call signaling message is received at a network node, and the network node provides the special alerting signal to a user terminal of the called party.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the alerting indicia is at least one of the group consisting of a prefix or suffix added to an address or directory number associated with the called party.
17 . The method of claim 15 wherein the alerting indicia is a special feature code provided in association with entering an address or dialing a directory number associated with the called party.
18 . The method of claim 15 wherein the network node is a telephony switch.
19 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one communication interface; and
a control system associated with the at least one communication interface and adapted to:
in association with a caller initiating a call to a called party, receive a call signaling message comprising a specific alerting request based on alerting indicia, which was originally provided by the caller in association with initiating the call, and corresponding to a special alerting signal to be provided to the called party when presented with the call;
identify the special alerting signal based on the specific alerting request; and
effect delivery of the special alerting signal to the called party to alert the called party of the call from the caller.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 wherein in association with the caller initiating a second call to the called party where no alerting indicia is provided by the caller, the control system is further adapted to:
receive a second call signaling message for the second call; and
effect delivery of a normal alerting signal to the called party instead of the special alerting signal to alert the called party of the second call from the caller.
21 . A method for allowing a caller to control an alerting signal provided to a called party comprising:
identifying alerting indicia that was entered by a caller when initiating a call to a called party; and
effecting delivery of a special alerting signal based on the alerting indicia to the called party when the call is presented to the called party.
22 . The method of claim 21 wherein when no alerting indicia is provided when initiating a call, a normal alerting signal is presented to the called party instead of the special alerting signal.