IP Library Granted Patent US 8,515,046
Granted Patent B2
US 8,515,046 · App. 13/469,157 · Granted Aug 20, 2013

Network selection of ringtones

Inventors: Valois Gonzalez (Marietta, GA); Douglas B. Alston (Fayetteville, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,515,046
App. No.
13/469,157
Granted
Aug 20, 2013
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (46)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a call at a network-based call control manager, the call from a calling party at a calling number to a called party at a called number;

storing in a network-based database a selection of ring tones associated with calling numbers and with types of calls;

determining the calling number is unassociated in the selection of ring tones;

prompting the calling party to identify a type of the call;

determining the calling party refused to identify the type of the call;

typing the call in a predetermined manner in response to the calling party refusing to identify the type of the call;

retrieving a ring tone associated with the predetermined manner;

notifying the network-based call control manager of the ring tone; and

presenting the ring tone on the call.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a central office.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a device associated with the called number.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising querying the network-based database for the ring tone.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising querying the network-based database for the called number.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising querying the network-based database for the calling number.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a call at a network-based call control manager, the call from a calling party at a calling number to a called party at a called number;

storing in a network-based database a selection of ring tones associated with calling numbers and with types of calls;

querying the network-based database for the calling number;

determining the calling number is unassociated in the selection of ring tones;

prompting the calling party to identify a type of the call when the calling number is unassociated in the selection of ring tones;

determining the calling party refused to identify the type of the call;

typing the call in a predetermined manner in response to the calling party refusing to identify the type of the call;

retrieving a ring tone associated with refusal the predetermined manner;

notifying the network-based call control manager of the ring tone; and

presenting the ring tone on the call.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a central office.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a device associated with the called number.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising querying the network-based database for the called number.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising querying the network-based database for the predetermined manner.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a call at a network-based call control manager, the call from a calling party at a calling number to a called party at a called number;

storing in a network-based database a selection of ring tones associated with calling numbers and with types of calls;

sending query for the calling number from the network-based call control manager to the network-based database;

determining the calling number is unassociated in the selection of ring tones;

prompting the calling party to identify a type of the call when the calling number is unassociated in the selection of ring tones;

determining the calling party refused to identify the type of the call;

typing the call in a predetermined manner in response to the calling party refusing to identify the type of the call;

querying the selection of ring tones for the predetermined manner;

retrieving a ring tone associated with the predetermined manner;

notifying the network-based call control manager of the ring tone; and

presenting the ring tone on the call.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a central office.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating the ring tone at a device associated with the called number.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising querying the database for the calling number.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending a ringtone command from the network-based call control manager to generate the ring tone.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2013
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 030046/0994 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030038/0648 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030038/0817 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 19, 2013
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030038/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2012
From: GONZALEZ, VALOIS; ALSTON, DOUGLAS
To: BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028209/0009 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12257027 · Oct 23, 2008
Continuation 11129873 · May 16, 2005
Continuation 10281759 · Oct 28, 2002
Related Publication 20120219141A1 · Aug 30, 2012