Method and apparatus for dynamically generating color ringback tones

1. A method of providing information to a caller during a ringing state of a caller-initiated telephone call to a called system, the method comprising:

receiving information from the called system regarding a status of a voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller;

converting the received information regarding the status of the voice-mail mailbox into an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal to the caller during the ringing state of the call,

wherein converting the information into an audio signal includes converting the information into a spoken message.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein playing the audio signal includes playing the audio signal superimposed on a ringing tone during the ringing state of the call.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

extracting caller identification information; and

providing the caller identification information to the called system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein converting the information includes using a text-to-speech apparatus to convert a text message into a spoken message; and wherein the audio signal comprises the spoken message.

5. A computer readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct an apparatus comprising the processor to perform the method of claim 1 .

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

holding the call in the ringing state long enough for the entire audio signal to be played.

7. A system for providing information to a caller during a ringing state of a caller-initiated telephone call to a called system, the system comprising:

a media channel;

a media server, coupled to the media channel, and constructed and arranged to output a media signal to the caller on the media channel during the ringing state of the telephone call;

an application executable in the media server and constructed and arranged to provide control information to the media server; and

a text-to-speech apparatus coupled to the media server,

wherein the media server is constructed and arranged to provide a text message to the text-to-speech apparatus based on the control information received from the application, and

wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is constructed and arranged to provide an audio signal to the media server, the audio signal being derived from the text message,

wherein the media signal comprises the audio signal,

wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to receive caller ID information that identifies at least one of the caller and a telephone number from which the caller is calling,

wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to request system information from the called system, and wherein the control information includes at least some of the system information,

wherein the application is further constructed and arranged to provide the caller ID information to the called system, and wherein the system information is based at least in part on the caller ID information, and

wherein the system information comprises a status of a voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller ID information.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the application is constructed and arranged to communicate with the media server using at least one Media Server Markup Language (MSML) script.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the control information is based at least in part on the caller ID information.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the called system is a voicemail server.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the text message includes the status of the mailbox associated with the caller ID information.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the audio signal includes the status of the mailbox associated with the caller ID information.

13. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is implemented as a software function within the media server.

14. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the media signal further comprises a ringing tone.

15. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the status of the voice-mail mailbox comprises at least one of:

a number indicating an amount of new voicemail messages;

a time at which a corresponding new voicemail message was received;

a phone number from which a corresponding new voicemail message was received; and

a number indicating an amount of saved voicemail messages.

16. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the media server is further constructed and arranged to hold the call in the ringing state long enough for the entire media signal to be played.

17. A system for providing information to a caller before a call, having corresponding caller ID information, made by the caller to a called system is answered, the information providing system comprising:

a media channel;

a media server, coupled to the media channel, and constructed and arranged to receive call signal information from the called system based on the caller ID information, the call signal information comprising a status of a voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller ID information, and to output a media signal to the caller on the media channel before the call is answered; and

a text-to-speech apparatus coupled to the media server,

wherein the media server is constructed and arranged to provide a text message to the text-to-speech apparatus based on the received call signal information,

wherein the text-to-speech apparatus is constructed and arranged to provide an audio signal to the media server, the audio signal being derived from the text message, and

wherein the media signal comprises the audio signal.

18. A system for providing information to a caller of a called system during a ringing state of a caller-initiated telephone call, the information providing system comprising:

a media channel; and

a media server, coupled to the media channel, constructed and arranged to:

request, from the called system, a status of a voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller;

prepare a media signal based on the status of the voice-mail mailbox;

output the media signal to the caller on the media channel during the ringing state of the telephone call; and

output a text message comprising the voice-mail mailbox status; and

a text-to-speech apparatus coupled to the media server to receive the text message and to provide an audio signal to the media server derived from the text message,

wherein the media server is constructed and arranged to incorporate the audio signal into the media signal.

19. The information providing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the media server is further constructed and arranged to:

receive caller ID information that identifies at least one of the caller and a telephone number from which the caller is calling; and

request, from the called system, the status of the voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller based on the received caller ID information.

20. The information providing system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the media server is further constructed and arranged to hold the call in the ringing state long enough for the entire media signal to be played.

21. A method of providing information to a caller during a ringing state of a caller-initiated telephone call to a called system, the method comprising:

receiving information from the called system regarding a status of a voice-mail mailbox associated with the caller;

converting the received information regarding the status of the voice-mail mailbox into an audio signal; and

playing the audio signal to the caller during the ringing state of the call,

wherein converting the received information includes using a text-to-speech apparatus to convert a text message into a spoken message, and

wherein the audio signal comprises the spoken message.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 , wherein playing the audio signal includes playing the audio signal superimposed on a ringing tone during the ringing state of the call.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:

extracting caller identification information; and

providing the caller identification information to the called system.

24. A computer readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor, instruct an apparatus comprising the processor to perform the method of claim 21 .

25. The method as claimed in claim 21 , further comprising:

holding the call in the ringing state long enough for the entire audio signal to be played.