System and method for providing a customized dialtone
View Patent ↗A system and method for customizing telephone communications is presented. The system and method may include a network node configured to communicate pre-dial content to the user of a communications device, rather than a dial tone.
1. A method for customizing telephone communications, said method comprising:
determining, at a network node, in response to receiving an off-hook signal from a telephone, that a user of the telephone has requested pre-dial content to be communicated to the telephone in substitution of a dial tone;
in response to determining that the user has requested pre-dial content to be communicated in substitution of a dial tone, communicating pre-dial content to the telephone in response to receiving the off-hook signal from the telephone; and
responding to a DTMF signal before completion of one of a discrete content message if the user pays a fee to enable interrupting pre-dial content before completion.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes communicating non-time dependent content.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes communicating music.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes communicating advertisements.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes communicating time dependent content.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes weather report information.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes traffic report information.
8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein communicating the pre-dial content includes content selected based on a user defined event occurring.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-dial content is a continuous stream of content.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-dial content is a single message.
11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising enabling a user to select a type of pre-dial content to be communicated.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting, by a service provider, a type of pre-dial content to be delivered.
13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising preventing a DTMF signal from being responded to until completion of one of a discrete content message, a set time duration, or entry of an emergency number.
14. A system for customizing telephone communications, said system comprising:
a network node configured to determine, in response to receiving an off-hook signal from a telephone, that a user of the telephone has requested pre-dial content to be communicated to the telephone in substitution of a dial tone, said network node further configured to determine that the user has requested pre-dial content to be communicated in substitution of a dial tone and communicate the pre-dial content to the telephone in response to receiving the off-hook signal from the telephone; and
a processing unit configured to interrupt the pre-dial content, if the user pays a fee, in response to receiving a DTMF signal before completion of presenting the pre-dial content.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the network node includes a database configured to store the pre-dial content, the pre-dial content includes non-time dependent content.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the pre-dial content includes music.
17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the pre-dial content includes advertisements.
18. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the network node includes a database for storing the pre-dial content, the pre-dial content includes time dependent content.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the pre-dial content includes weather report information.
20. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the pre-dial content includes traffic report information.
21. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-dial content includes content selected based upon a user defined event occurring.
22. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-dial content is a continuous stream of content.
23. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the pre-dial content is a single message.
24. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising an I/O unit for enabling a user to select a type of pre-dial content to be communicated.
25. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a processing unit for enabling a service provider to select a type of pre-dial content to be delivered.
26. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a processing unit for preventing a DTMF signal from being responded to until completion of one of a discrete content message, a set time duration, or entry of an emergency number.
27. A method for customizing telephone communications, said method comprising:
determining, at a network node, in response to receiving an off-hook signal from a telephone, that a user of the telephone has requested pre-dial content to be communicated to the telephone in substitution of a dial tone;
in response to determining that the user has requested pre-dial content to be communicated in substitution of a dial tone, communicating pre-dial content to the telephone in response to receiving the off-hook signal from the telephone; and
preventing a DTMF signal from being responded to until completion of a set time duration.
28. The method according to claim 27 , further comprising setting the set time duration includes setting the set time duration to an amount of time for a discrete content message to be played.
29. The method according to claim 27 , wherein preventing the DTMF signal from being responded to further includes preventing the DTMF signal from being responded to until an emergency number is received.