FR2824218A1 - REAL-TIME RING TONE SELECTION DEVICE BASED ON CALLING NUMBER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and methods for selecting ring tones in real time and for matching available ring tones with values associated with a caller's number. The selection device (1) comprises means (11) for identifying a caller's number (4) and means (12) for selecting a ring tone (Si) to be sounded from available ring tones. These selection means select the ring tone to be sounded according to the value of a restricted part of the caller's number, preferably representative of an area and/or a network from which the call comes. They comprise a module for selecting, according this value, a family of ring tones and a module for internally selecting the ring tone to be sounded from within the selected family, independently of the caller's number.

Description

- we extract (613) the address of the routing frame.

  The present invention relates to a device and a method for selecting ringtones in real time as a function of a calling number, in particular in the telephone field. It also relates to a device and a method for matching available ring tones and values associated with a calling number, which can be used for selection of ring tones in real time. The invention applies

  also related applications and software product.

  It is known to be able to identify the calling person on his telephone, by an automatic display of his telephone number. Existing systems allow the names of callers to be viewed directly, by prior association of numbers and names in the telephone. These systems, however, require being in close proximity to the phone to examine the number, and are not suitable for the blind or visually impaired. In addition, if subscribers generally succeed in immediately identifying the most frequent interlocutors by the mere sight of their number, it is most often not the same with

  more casual contacts.

  To improve caller recognition, several techniques have been proposed which make it possible to trigger separate telephone rings according to the callers. These techniques are based on the prior association by the user of his chosen neries with predefined numbers respectively. Thus, when the caller's number is recognized in a list of these numbers, the corresponding ring tone is automatically triggered. Otherwise, a default ringtone is selected. The caller can therefore be identified remotely, he can be recognized even by the visually impaired and the memory capacity by the user is increased compared to the simple display of numbers. -2 Thus, the document GB-2308038 describes a telephone apparatus containing a memory for storing records containing names and associated telephone numbers. When an incoming call has a source identified and recognized as corresponding to one of the stored telephone numbers, the ringtone is adapted accordingly. Document WO-00/17850, for its part, discloses the application of an automatic musical generation device for controlling a ringing tone of a personal musical call made by the user, the musical sound being, as a variant , automatically associated with the phone number of

the appellant (p.26, 1.14-18).

  However, such systems only allow a very limited number of callers to be taken into account, not only for reasons of memory congestion in the telephone, but also because the user generally does not have the possibility of memorizing. the correspondence of a very large number of rings with predefined callers. The document EP-0901263 proposes a method for processing telephone numbers in a mobile telephone, comprising the definition of caller groups in the form of lists of numbers. Each group is assigned a separate ringtone, which is selected when a call is received. When no group number is recognized, a default ring tone is triggered. This method makes it possible to take into account a large number of possible interlocutors, by distinguishing for example the numbers of the house, the office and the customers. However, it requires predefining all of the numbers concerned and therefore requires regular monitoring to update it, for example to integrate new numbers from work colleagues or customers. In addition, all callers

  not previously recorded commonly produce the same ringtone.

  -3 Publication EP-0822697 discloses a method of discriminating callers in a telephone system. This system is provided with a memory intended to contain a password. When a person enters this password by calling the user, he receives a special treatment, in particular by the triggering of a nery distinct from that used in the absence of composition of the password. This method allows the user to immediately identify the members of the group who have the password, without having to register their names and telephone numbers beforehand. Thus, group members can change or use other telephones than the usual ones, without

  that the possibility of recognition be altered.

  However, such a system compels the appellants to take a specific approach, in the absence of which no discrimination is provided. In addition, distinguishing callers by ringing tones is reduced to binary recognition between group members and others. In practice, as suggested in the document, the group members are reduced to a few close people, no information by

  the ringtone is not given to other callers.

  The present invention relates to a device for selecting ringtones in real time, making it possible to discriminate between callers without the need to register the numbers of all the persons concerned beforehand, and without the callers having to make calls.

  specific reconnaissance operations.

  The selection device of the invention makes possible dynamic identification, that is to say allowing modifications over time of the numbers concerned by the discriminating rings, which can target a very large number of callers. In addition, it can be reconciled with easy -4 memorization by the user of associations between his ne ries and callers. The invention also relates to a method for selecting ringtones in real time having the aforementioned advantages. The invention also relates to devices, software and methods making it possible to implement or implement the device or the

  method for selecting ringtones of the invention.

  It applies in particular to the field of telephony, fixed or mobile, but also finds applications in particular in the field of data processing, ringing tones which can be triggered in terminals. To this end, the invention relates to a device for selecting ringtones, preferably telephone, in real time, comprising: - means for identifying a caller number, - and means for selecting a ringtone to be triggered from at least two available rings, capable of selecting according to

  the value of the number calling the bell to be triggered.

  According to the invention, the selection means are provided for selecting the ringtone to be triggered as a function of the value of a part

  restricted caller number, defining a set of callers.

  By "restricted part of the calling number" is meant a separate part of the complete number, for example relating only to the first digits of the number (preferred embodiments) or to the sum of the digits of the number (this is then a "part "of the number in the sense of incomplete information on it). For convenience, the term 5 "calling number" is used in the sing ulier, mentioning the "values" of this number. Since the number of digits of the calling number can vary, the restricted part is defined on the basis of one of the different cases considered (for example, the restricted part is: the first six digits for a ten-digit number and the third to ninth digits for a number longer than ten digits, even if in most of the cases foreseen,

  uses only two of these digits to determine which ringtone to trigger).

  In addition, in this definition as in the following, the entities are defined in functional terms, and can therefore be assimilated or not to physical units: the different entities can be grouped on an electronic card or in software, distributed respectively in separate objects, some of which are divided into several

disjointed elements ...

  Surprisingly, and unlike existing systems, the selection device of the invention therefore does not rely on unambiguous definitions of values of the calling number. On the contrary, the information used from the caller's number is partial and actually defines sets of callers (each caller being

  associated with a full value of the calling number).

  Listening, the called party can thus immediately identify information about the caller, even if he does not know this caller and has never dealt with him (geographical origin of the call, company belonging, telecommunications network used ...). In addition, this recognition does not require any action on the part of the callers and applies to an unlimited and variable number of people in each of the groups. Another advantage of the invention is the diversity provided. The nature of the information obtained by listening and the choice of corresponding ring tones -6 are established at the outset, by the user or an automatic system. The number of sets is advantageously established by the user, according to his needs, his desires (because he can for example opt for a large number of distinct musical ringtones for the pleasure of the ear, even if he '' extracts useful information only from some of these ringtones) and / or its ability to

  storage. Defined sets can also have intersections.

  In this case, either priority orders are predefined, or the choice between ringtones is made according to given criteria (for example randomly), or preferentially specific ringtones are provided

  for intersections between sets.

  Furthermore. the device of the invention can also integrate known systems for automatic recognition of the full calling number, specific ringtones being reserved for this. In cases where the calling number is not known or is not identified as

  associated with a particular ring, a default ring is triggered.

  Preferably, the restricted part is representative of a

  call origin area eVou of a call origin network.

  Thus, the restricted part is advantageously chosen from: - a code representative of a communication network, - a code representative of a country, - a code representative of a national region eVou of a city, a code representative of a business network,

  - and one unlon of at least two of these codes.

  -7 In other less significant embodiments, and for purely playful or aesthetic purposes, the restricted part consists of the last digit (s) of the calling number or a sum of the digits of this number. In a preferred embodiment, the selection means comprise: a module for selecting a family of ringtones from at least two families of available ringtones, at least one of these families comprising at least two ringtones, and a module for internal selection of the ringtone to be triggered

within the selected family.

  In this embodiment, a set of call stations defined by the restricted part of the calling number (giving for example the country of origin of the call) is not associated with a single ring, but with several. We can thus introduce a diversity of ringtones for the same set, to define significant subsets, identify specific callers eVou for the pleasure of diversity. In addition, some of the sets can be associated with a single ring, the

  corresponding family then comprising a single element.

  Preferably, the musical sounds of each family are consistent, so that one can easily identify their belonging to the same family. For example, the set concerned relates to calls from the United States and the associated ringtone family includes a set of musical ringtones of a typically American style (country, jazz, etc.). A particular subfamily of ringtones is chosen for the subset of callers from New York State, and another subfamily of this subfamily for calls from a given company in that State (identified by the first -8 telephone digits of an internal network). Within this latter sub-family, the ringtones are selected at random according to the callers coming from the company, except for a few specific people, whose complete values of the telephone number are associated with very precise ringtones. In a first advantageous form of this embodiment, the internal selection module is capable of selectively

  the ringtone to be triggered in the selected family.

  Within the ringtone family, the ringtone triggered is

  therefore unpredictable for the called party, which makes it possible to avoid the routine.

  In a second advantageous form of the embodiment with families, the internal selection module is capable of selecting

  cyclically the bell to be triggered in the selected family.

  For each set of values of the calling number, the ringing signal triggered in the corresponding family is then predictable,

but evolves during calls.

  In a third advantageous form of the embodiment with families, the internal selection module is capable of selecting

  as a function of time, the bell to be triggered in the selected family.

  We can thus, for example, choose different ringtones in the same family according to the time range of the day, or the day of the week. In a fourth advantageous form of the embodiment with families, the internal selection module is able to select according to a partial complementary part of the restricted part of the

  number calling the ringtone to be triggered in the selected family.

  By a partial complementary part of the restricted part ", one understands information complementary to the restricted part in the calling number, insufficient however to make it possible to establish this number

  completely. This fourth form amounts to defining sub-

  families of the family of his concerned neries, associated with sub-

  sets of the set of values for the corresponding calling number.

  Advantageously, in the embodiments with families, the selection means comprise an association module for at least one of the families comprising at least two rings, from at least partial values of the calling number to rings available in this family. This association module is capable of: - receiving from the internal selection module identifiers of at least one of the rings triggered for this family and at least partial values of the caller number corresponding to these rings, - and register in at least one association memory the ring identifiers and the at least partial values of the caller number received by the association model and the correspondence s between

these identifiers and these values.

  In addition, the internal selection module is designed to perform the following operations for the selected family: - examine in the association memory if the calling number has a value corresponding to at least one of the at least partial values recorded, - in the event of a positive response, select from this family the ringtone corresponding to this at least partial value of the calling number, -10 - and in the event of a negative response, otherwise select one of the

family ringtones.

  This realization therefore offers the possibility of setting a combination of its nerie - caller number or its nerie - subset, within the family of its neries considered and the corresponding set of values of the number. appellant. Thus, if the user receives a call from a person linked to a given set (for example an employee of a company) and he wishes to associate with this person the ringtone triggered for When the person calls again later, the ringtone associated is then

automatically triggered.

  In this way, the user refines the associations between ring tones and people or groups of people, as and when calls reach him. It thus has a very flexible and adaptive system. Advantageously, the selection means comprise a module for unequivocal allocation of ringtones, coupled to at least one memory for unequivocal allocation of ringtones. This unique allocation memory is intended to contain available ring identifiers, complete values of the calling number and correspondences between these ring identifiers and these values. In addition, the unequivocal allocation module is designed to: - examine as a priority in the unequivocal allocation memory whether the calling number has a value corresponding to one of the complete values recorded, - in the event of a positive response, select the ringtone corresponding to this full value of the calling number,

  - and if the answer is negative, be inactive.

  We thus combine the technique of recognizing part of the calling number with the technique of recognizing the number

  complete, for a list of predefined values for this number.

  The device for selecting ringtones in real time is or is not arranged in a station for emitting ringtones. Thus, according to a particular advantageous form of implementation, it is constituted in an electronic card inserted in a mobile or fixed telephone, in connection with for example a memory of the removable cassette or diskette type intended to contain the available ringtones. In an implementation variant, this device is integrated into the ringing station. The storage medium for the available ringtones can also be external to the transmitting station containing the selection device; this support is then preferably directly accessible by a server which communicates with the

  extension, for example in the form of a server memory or a disk.

  Such an embodiment implies a very rapid transfer of the ringing tone from the server to the sending station, during a call. In alternative embodiments, a ring generator is used instead of a storage medium. According to other implementation modes, the selection device is external to the station for sending the ring tones and is advantageously arranged in a server. in software form. The storage medium contains the available neries or the generator of its neries is then either placed in the transmission station or directly accessible by the server. These implementation modes are based on very fast communication between the server and the station, especially when the ringtones

  available are outside the station.

  In a first form of ringtones, these are single channel, of the type obtained by a simple buzzer. In a second form, they -12 are multi-channel, several musical channels being provided for playing simultaneously. The invention also relates to a device for matching ring tones, preferably telephone, available and values associated with a calling number. This device comprises: - means of definition by a user of these values and - means of choice by this user of the ringtones

  available corresponding to these values.

  According to the invention, the definition means are provided to relate to the values of a restricted part of the calling number, defining a

set of callers.

  The matching device of the invention allows a definition of sets of values of the calling number and a choice of rings or families of associated rings. Preferably, it is intended to be coupled to any one of the embodiments of a device

  for selecting ringtones according to the invention.

  In an advantageous form of implementation, the mapping device is integrated into a server, preferably in software form. In other embodiments, it is placed in a ringing station. Preferably, the two implementation modes are combined, the user then having a predefined local leeway (for example the right to modify values and associated ringtones) and having to access the server to perform other operations ( for example to determine the digits of the number

  callers to be taken into account to select the ringtones).

  Advantageously, the matching device of the invention comprises means for determining by the user of the restricted part eVou of portions of the restricted part of the number

  callers associated with user-defined values.

  Thus, the user has great latitude in associating the ringing tones and the values of the calling number and he himself can select the information which appear to him the most useful according to

its needs.

  In a preferred embodiment, the ring selection means are capable of choosing at least one family of at least two rings, corresponding respectively to at least one of the values

  defined for the calling number.

  In another embodiment, the ring choice means are provided to assign a single ring per value of the restricted part (several values can also be associated with the same ring). According to preferred embodiments, the ringtone selection device or the ringtone matching device comprises a musical ringtone generator capable of generating the

ring tones available.

  There are several applications involving the presence of a ring generator: - the ring generator is integrated into the matching device; the means of choice are thus able to offer the user a very wide variety of ring tones, renewable at will, composed when the user chooses or generated beforehand and stored in a storage medium (memory, cassette , disc ...); - The ringtone generator is part of the selection device in real time and the selection means are provided to activate the ringtone generator during calls; advantageously, the generation of rings being determined by the values of a set of parameters, a part of the parameters is predefined (for example during a matching of values of the restricted part of the calling number and of rings) and l the other part is left free and is specified during calls; this realization requires a very short duration of generation of the ringtones; the ringtone generator is part of the selection device in real time and the latter is intended to trigger the generation of its sounds in connection with calls and to record these sounds in a storage medium; thus, during calls, the ringtones - are already dialed; unlike the generation of ring tones by the matching device, these compositions are performed without user intervention; if necessary, the selection device however takes into account the choices expressed by the user during the prior matching, for example by fixing part of the ringtone generation parameters. The three embodiments above are advantageously combined. The last two of them apply in the presence of

ringtone families.

  In a preferred embodiment of the ring generator

  musical, this conforms to the disclosure of document WO-00/17850.

  Thus, the ringtone generator preferably comprises: - a means of defining musical moments during which at least four notes can be played, -15 - a means of defining two families of note pitches, for each musical moment , the second family of note pitches having at least one note pitch which is not in the first family of note pitches, - a means of constituting at least one succession of notes having at least two notes, each succession of notes being called a musical phrase, a succession in which, for each moment, each note whose pitch belongs exclusively to the second family is surrounded exclusively by notes from the first family, and - a means for outputting a signal representative of each height

of note of each said succession.

  Thanks to these provisions, the succession of pitch pitches has both a great richness because the number of successions that can be thus generated is several billion, and a harmonic coherence, because the polyphony generated is governed by constraints. According to particular characteristics, the means of defining two families of note pitches is adapted to define, for each musical moment, the first family as a set of note pitches

  belonging to a chord duplicated from octave to octave.

  According to other particular characteristics, the means for defining two families of note pitches is adapted to define the second family of note pitches so that it comprises at least the note pitches of a range which are not in the range first family of

note pitches.

  Thanks to these provisions, the definition of families is easy and

  the alternation of notes of the two families is harmonious.

  -16 According to other particular characteristics, the means of constituting at least one succession of notes having at least two notes is adapted so that each musical phrase is defined as a set of notes whose start times are not separated Between

  them, two by two, more than a predetermined duration.

  Thanks to these arrangements, a musical phrase is. for example, made up of notes whose beginnings are not separated by more than three

1 0 sixteenth notes.

  Preferably, at least one of the means for defining musical moments, for defining two families of note pitches and for constituting at least one succession of notes is based on the value of parameters. Advantageously, the parameters are then partly determined by a user when the ringtones and the values of the restricted part of the calling number are matched, and partly determined subsequently, for example randomly. By way of illustration, the user chooses the style of music (waltz, tango, country ...), the duration and the speed of execution, and the generator of musical ringtones produces a ringtone by randomly drawing the other parameters.

  The invention also relates to telephone equipment. According to the invention, this comprises a device for selecting ringtones according to the invention and advantageously a device for setting

  correspondence according to the invention.

  The invention also relates to a telematic server. According to the invention, this server comprises a matching device according to the invention and advantageously a device for selecting

ringtones according to the invention.

  -17 The invention also relates to a p rod u it log here. According to the invention, this comprises functionalities capable of producing a ringtone selection device according to the invention and a matching device according to the invention. "Software product" means any materialization of software, including not only media

storage but also signals.

  The invention also relates to a method for selecting ring tones, preferably telephone, in real time, in which: - a calling number is identified, - and a ring to be triggered is selected from at least

  two rings available, depending on the caller's number values.

  According to the invention, the ringtone to be triggered is selected as a function of a restricted part of the calling number, defining a

set of callers.

  Preferably, the selection method is designed to be implemented by means of a ringtone selection device conforming to

  any of the embodiments of the invention.

  The invention also relates to a method for matching available ring tones, preferably telephonic, with values associated with a calling number. In this process: - we allow a user to define these values, - and we allow the user to choose the available ringtones

corresponding to these values.

  According to the invention, these values relate to a restricted part of the

  caller number, defining a set of callers.

  -18 Preferably, the method is intended to be implemented by means of a matching device in accordance with a

  any of the embodiments of the invention.

  The invention will be better understood and illustrated by means of the following examples of embodiment and implementation, in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 shows in operation a telephone set incorporating a first embodiment of the invention. 'a real-time ringtone selection device according to the invention; - Figure 2 details in operation of the selection means of the ringtone selection device of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a flowchart giving successive operations performed by the ringtone selection device of Figures 1 and 2; - Figures 4A and 4B show a flowchart which details ringtone selection operations of the flowchart of Figure 3; - Figure 5 shows schematically a telematic server integrating a first embodiment of a matching device according to the invention and illustrates the communication between this server and the telephone set of Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 6 shows a flowchart of automatic musical generation, implemented for the generation of ring tones by means of the ring tone selection device of Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 7 shows in the form of a block diagram a musical ring generator usable in the ring selection device of Figures 1 and 2 and allowing automatic musical generation in accordance with Figure 6; FIG. 8 shows in operation means for selecting a second embodiment of a ringtone selection device according to the invention, not involving families of ringtone (this selection device being associated a second embodiment of a matching device, not shown); FIG. 9 shows a telephone set comprising a third embodiment of a device for selecting its neries according to the invention, as well as a telematic server comprising a third embodiment of a matching device according to the invention, communicating with the telephone set; - Figure 10 shows schematically in operation a computer server which contains a fourth embodiment of a ringtone selection device according to the invention, similar to one of the preceding embodiments, and a terminal equipped with transmission means ring tones, communicating with the server; - And Figure 11 shows a telephone set comprising both a fifth embodiment of a ringtone selection device and a fifth embodiment of an associated matching device, these devices being similar to those of the modes

of previous achievements.

  The content of the figures is considered to be part

integral to the disclosure.

  In the figures, identical or similar elements are designated by the same references. In addition, the directions of the arrows generally indicate the directions of transfer of the information exchanged between

many elements.

  -20 Certain entities are designated generically by letters and are specified by these same letters followed by indices (by

  example, a "ringtone S '" is an i-th ringtone S).

  A telephone 2 (Figure 1), fixed or mobile, comprises a communication module 15 with a telephone network and a ringing transmission module 3 S. The communication module 15 is provided in particular for receiving calls from callers Aj, each of them having

  a value N 'of a calling number 4.

  The telephone 2 also includes a storage space 5, which in particular contains a database 10 in which various sounds are recorded. The storage space 5 is not necessarily homogeneous and may contain, for example, a cassette or a removable disk intended for the database 10 and an internal memory.

for other information.

  A selection device 1 included in the telephone 2 has the function of selecting an appropriate ringtone S 'in the database 10 from the value Nj of the calling number 4. This selection relates to a restricted part of the number caller 4. The selection device 1 essentially comprises: - an identification unit 11 of the caller number 4, - a selection unit 12 of the ringtone S 'appropriate as a function of the identified caller number 4, which acts as intermediary between the database 10 and the transmission module 3; - And a generator 13 of musical ringtones; the latter is intended to compose ringtones and save them in the database.

  data 10, according to instructions from the selection unit 12.

  The selection unit 12 (Figure 2) will now be described in detail in its functionality. This unit 12 comprises, upstream of processing, a unique allocation module 21 for ring tones, in connection with an allocation memory 31 of the storage space 5. The allocation memory 31 contains indications which make it possible to associate certain Nj values of the caller number 4 to ring tones available in the database 10. A user of telephone 2 thus has the possibility of registering the caller number 4 of a few privileged parties (for example ten), such as friends or family members for personal use, and clients and suppliers and work colleagues for professional use. The user having assigned to each of these interlocutors a particular ringtone S, he can recognize immediately by listening if a call comes from one of them. The selection unit 12 also includes a module 22 for selecting a ring F family and an internal selection module 23 for a ring S to be triggered within the selected family F. Two levels of selection are thus practiced: - the first level of selection is predefined and brings into play the restricted part considered of the calling number 4; each of the values in this restricted part covers a whole set Ej of complete values of the calling party number 4, that is to say of the calling parties Aj k (k = 1 ... J); to this set Ej is associated a whole family of ring tones Sjk, (k '= 1 ... J'), denoted Fj; the second level of selection amounts to identifying among the rings S of the family Fj selected, the ring Sjk to be triggered;

  this generally does not have a pre-established link with one of the callers Aj k.

  The first level of selection is based on a tree-like processing of the restricted part of the calling number 4: for example, depending on the number of digits of the number 4, the digits of the restricted part taken into account differ, and depending on the values of the figures taken into account in a first step, we are interested or not in other figures of the restricted part in a second step (this process being

  possibly repeated in one or more subsequent steps).

  Some of the F ringtone families can be reduced to a single element, others can be defined by parameters or based on common specifics (for example the same melody,

  but played by different instruments or with a different rhythm).

  Some of the F families may also contain very different ringtones, but linked by a common theme (for example tunes from

  tango, opera, children's music ...).

  The selection of one of the ring tones S within the family F considered is carried out for example by one of the following methods or one of their combinations: - random draw; - cyclic selection, in a pre-established order repeated during the cycles, or with modification of the order of the rings at each new cycle; - determination as a function of time, for example the week or the time of day; - use of the complementary part of the restricted part, but without the full value of the calling number 4 being taken into account (last digit of the calling number, sum of all the digits of the number ...); either this selection criterion, or the associated ringtones, are not prefixed for one of the families, otherwise we would implicitly extend the part

restricted calling number.

  In a particular case, however, the ringtone selection S in the family Fj predeterminedly uses a larger part of the calling number 4 than the restricted part used to define the families, or even the complete value of the number. These are then associations made initially automatically by the internal selection module 23 and retained by the user for future calls. The selection unit 12 for this purpose comprises an association module 24 in relation to an association memory 34 of the storage space 5. This association module 24 has a double function: - during selection by the internal selection module 23 of one of the ring tones S of one of the families F. record in the association memory 34 at the request of the user, a correspondence between this ring tone S and an at least partial value of the number calling 4; - and during a subsequent call with this same at least partial value of caller number 4, automatically select the ringtone

S corresponding.

  When the full value of the calling number 4 is taken into account for the registration of correspondences, the association module 24 thus plays an identical role to that of the unequivocal allocation module 21 for the selection of the ringtones S. since '' he attributes without

  equivocates a specific ringtone to each of the targeted parties.

  However, while the correspondences in allocation memory 31 are predetermined by the user, those in association memory 34 are established dynamically, starting from automatic choices by the

internal association module 23.

  Furthermore, when a partial value of the calling number 4 is taken into account for the recording of correspondences in the association memory 34, the association module 24 implicitly defines one or more subfamilies of family F considered. The selection device 1 then behaves as if the restricted part of the calling number 4 used to define the families has been extended. However, -24 the extension of interlocutor targeting is carried out dynamically from automatic choices made by the internal selection module

  23, and not predetermined by the user.

  By default, the selection unit 12 causes the triggering

a standard S ringtone.

  The sequence of operations carried out by the selection device 1 is set out below. For simplicity, it is considered that the association module 24 takes into account the complete values of the calling number 4. Otherwise, when the association module 24 identifies a subfamily in the family considered, the internal selection 11 then selects one of the ring tones S of this sub-family. In operation, the procedure is therefore successively as follows (Figure 3): - analysis of the calling number 4 by the identification unit 11 (step 40); - comparison of the complete value N 'of number 4 with values prerecorded in the allocation memory 31, by the allocation module 21 (steps 41 and 42); - in the event of the presence of the complete value Nj in allocation memory 31, selection of the corresponding ringtone S in the database 10 (step 43); - otherwise, application of family selection criteria by the selection module 22 of families F (steps 44 and 45); - if the family selection criteria do not make it possible to identify a family member, selection of the default tone (step 46); - otherwise, search for the value of the calling number 4 in the association memory 34 (steps 47 and 48); In the event of the presence of this value in association memory 34, selection of the corresponding ringtone S in the database 10 (step 49); - in the opposite case, application of the ringing selection criteria within the family F considered by the internal selection module 23 (step 50); optionally, recording in the association memory 34 of the correspondence between the value of the calling number 4 and the ringtone S selected, by the association module 24 and on

user request.

  An illustrative example detailing the steps of family selection and internal selection (steps 44 to 50) will provide a better understanding of the implementation of the selection operations. This example brings into play suitable selection criteria for an employee of Thomson multimedia (TMM) in France. These criteria can be supplemented or modified according to the user, in the desired way. The internal selection techniques are not specified: they can, for example, comply with any of the methods set out above. During a ringing selection (Figures 4A and 4B): - the number of digits of the calling number 4 is examined (steps 51 and 52); - if this is equal to 10 (call originating in France), we are interested in the first two digits of number 4 (step 53); - if these first two digits are equal to 01 (call originating from Ile de-France, corresponding to an F1 family), the following four digits are examined (steps 54 and 55); - if these are worth 4186 (indicative for the establishment of Boulogne Billancourt of TMM), a ringtone S '' j is selected from a subfamily F'1 of the F1 family, according to an internal selection technique (step 56) ; In the contrary case, one selects only his nery S. j, in the family F1 (step 61); - if the first two digits are 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 (values indicative of a region of France where the call comes from for 02, 03, 04 and 05 and a call from a telephone cell for 06), a ring S2, j2, S3, j3, S4, j4, S5, js OR S6, j6 (steps 62 to 66) are selected from a family F2, F3, F4, F5 or F6 respectively; - if the first two digits have a value other than those above, the default ringtone SO is selected (step 67); - if the number of digits is different from 10 (call from abroad), the first two digits of the calling number 4 are examined (steps 70 and 71); - if these are worth 00 (prefix for leaving France), the third and fourth digits are examined (step 73); - if the third digit is worth 1 (independently of the fourth digit: call from North America, corresponding to a fam il the F7 of its neries), we examine only the fourth to ninth digits (steps 57 and 58); - if these are worth 609734 (indicative of the Princeton establishment of TMM), a ringtone S'7 j, 7 is selected in a subfamily F'7 of the family F7 (step 59); - in the contrary case, a ringtone S7 j7 is selected from the F7 family (step 74); - if the third and fourth digits are worth 49, 81 or 44 (values indicative of calls from Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom respectively), an S8 jB ringtone is selected from a F8, F9 or F10 family respectively , S9 µg OR S4oio (steps 75-77); - if the third and fourth digits have a value other than those above, the default ringtone SO is selected (step 78); If the first two digits of the calling number 4 are distinct from 00, the default ringtone SO is also selected (step 72). To predefine the criteria to be applied to caller number 4 and the correspondence between the values of the restricted part of this number and the available ringtones, a telematic server 6 is used (Figure 5) with a device 80, capable of communicating with telephone 2 via the communication network and the

communication module 15.

  The matching device 80 comprises: - a unit 81 for determining the restricted part, or portions of this part, that is to say types of sets to which the criteria for selecting ringtones apply, - a unit of definition 82 of the values of the restricted part used to choose the ring tones, that is to say of determination of the predefined sets for each type of set, - and a unit of choice 83 of the available ring tones associated with the indicated values; these ringtones are for example produced by the generator 13 in the telephone 2, chosen from ringtones available in a cassette or a disc available on the market for this purpose or downloaded by the telephone network or another communication network. In operation, a user of the telephone 2 connects to the server 6, which offers him various choices relating to the caller number 4 and the rings to be triggered. The user then communicates his wishes to the server 6, which acts in return on the selection device 1 to configure it accordingly. Units 81 to 83 are consecutively -28 activated repeatedly, so that a selection tree of

  rings can be set up in the selection device 1.

  An advantageous embodiment of a generator 13 of musical ringtones will now be explained, with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Detailed modalities are set out in the international application.

WO-00/1 7850.

  FIG. 6 schematically represents a flowchart of

  automatic music generation used for the generator 13.

  After the start 91, musical moments are defined during an operation 92. For example, a musical piece is then defined comprising measures, each measure comprising beats, each beat comprising note locations. In this example, operation 92 consists in assigning a number of measures to the musical piece, a number of beats for each measure and a number of note locations for each beat or a minimum note duration. Each musical moment is defined in such a way that at least four notes are likely

to be played during its duration.

  Then, during an operation 94, two families of note pitches are defined for each musical moment, the second family of note pitches having at least one note pitch which is not in the first family. For example, each half measure of the musical piece is assigned a scale and a chord, the first family comprising the note pitches of this chord, duplicated from octave to octave and the second family comprising at least the note pitches of the range who are not in the first family. We observe that different musical moments or consecutive musical moments

  can have the same note pitch families.

  -29 Then, during an operation 96, at least one succession of notes having at least two notes is formed with, for each moment, each note whose pitch belongs exclusively to the second family being surrounded exclusively by notes from the first family. For example, a succession of notes is defined as a set of notes whose start times are not separated from each other, two by two, by more than a predetermined duration. Thus, in the example explained with operation 94, for each half measure, a succession of notes does not have two consecutive note pitches

  which are exclusively in the second family of note pitches.

  During an operation 98, a signal representative of the note pitches of each succession is emitted. The musical generation stops

then to operation 100.

  FIG. 7 represents, in the form of a block diagram, an embodiment of the generator 13 of musical ringtones. In this embodiment, the generator 13 comprises, interconnected by at least one signal line 110, a generator of families of note pitches 102, a generator of musical moments 104, a generator of musical phrases 106 and a port of output 108. The output port 108 is connected to a line of

  external signal 112 connected to the database 10.

  Signal line 110 is a line capable of conveying a message or information. For example, it is an electrical or optical conductor of known type. The musical moments generator 104 defines musical moments in such a way that during each musical moment, four notes can be played. For example, the musical moments generator 104 defines a musical piece by a number of measures it contains and, for each measure, a number of -30 beats, and for each beat, a number of note start locations

  possible or a minimum note duration.

  The note pitch family generator 102 defines two note pitch families for each musical moment. The generator 102 defines the two families of note pitches such that the second family of note pitches has at least one note pitch which is not in the first family of note pitches. For example, each half measure of the musical piece is assigned a scale and a chord, the first family comprising the note pitches of this chord, duplicated from octave to octave, and the second family comprising at least the note pitches of the range that is not in the first family. We observe that different musical moments or consecutive musical moments can have the same families of

note pitches.

  The musical phrase generator 106 generates at least one succession of notes having at least two notes, each succession being constituted in such a way that, for each moment, each note whose pitch belongs exclusively to the second family is surrounded exclusively by notes of the first family. For example, a succession of notes is defined as a set of notes whose start times are not separated from each other, two by two, by more than a predetermined duration. Thus, in the example explained with the generator of note pitch families 102, for each half measure, a succession of notes does not have two consecutive note pitches which are

  exclusively in the second family of note pitches.

  The output port 108 transmits, via the external signal line 112, a signal representative of the note pitches of each successlon. During the configuration phase of the selection device 1 by the matching device 80, musical ringtones are produced by the generator 13 according to specifications given by the user, and the latter chooses from the ringtones produced, those who

  should be stored in the database 10.

  In an alternative embodiment, the external signal line 112 is directly connected to the transmission module 3, so as to generate ring tones S in real time at the time of calls. During the configuration phase, the user chooses only the parameters for generating the rings, and not the rings themselves. These parameters, which are saved in the storage space 5, do not entirely define the ringtones but families of ringtones. During calls, the appropriate parameters are then communicated to the generator 13 by the

internal selection 23.

  In another embodiment of the selection device (Figure 8), it comprises a selection unit 16 such that each set Ej of callers Ajk is associated with a single ringtone Sj. In this way, the ring tones S to be triggered are entirely predefined from the user specifications. The selection unit 16 includes for this purpose the

  allocation module 21 and a single selection module 115.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the selection device, referenced 121 and incorporated in a telephone 122 (FIG. 9) does not include a ring generator. On the other hand, the matching device, referenced 120 and included in a telematic server 7, comprises such a generator, which can be of the type of generator 13 described above. This provides ringtones to the choice module 83, according to the parameters specifications given by the user, and these sounds are -32 are proposed to the user for registration in the base. 10. An embodiment outside the field of telephony proper (Figure 10) involves a terminal 8 of a computer network such as the Internet 14 and a computer server 9. The terminal 8 is provided with means transmission of ring tones Sj, intended to be triggered when soliciting calls for communication by other terminals, callers Aj, via the network 14. A ring selection device such as for example that referenced 1 or 121 in the modes of production

  above, is located not in terminal 8 but in server 9.

  The latter may also contain a matching device such as that previously referenced 80 or 120. The terminal 8 subscribes beforehand a subscription, which allows it to benefit from the services of

  automatic ringtone selection according to the caller.

  In operation, each time an incoming call is made to the terminal 8, the latter communicates the calling number 4 to the server 9, which determines a corresponding ringtone S 'by means of the selection device 1 or 121 and sends it to the terminal 8 so that 'it is triggered. The server 9 is preferably a local server dedicated inter alia to the terminal 8, for example of a home network or of an internal network of a company (or even of a part of this network), which makes it possible to obtain reasonable delays between the reception of the call and the emission of the ringtone Sj in the terminal 8. In another exemplary embodiment (FIG. 11), a telephone 132 not only comprises a ringtone selection device, such as the one referenced 1 or 121 in the preceding examples, but also a matching device, such as that respectively referenced or 120. The telephone 132 is then also provided with a user interface -33 135 connected to the matching device 80 or 120, which allows the user to carry out all the operations for determining the significant values of the restricted part and the rings to trigger these values. The telephone 132 thus makes it possible to implement the method of automatic selection of its nery in a completely autonomous manner. -34

Claims (23)

  1. Device for selecting (1,121) ring tones, preferably telephone, in real time, comprising: - identification means (11) of a calling number (4), - and selection means (12, 16 ) of a ringtone (Sj) to be triggered from at least two available rings, capable of selecting according to the value (Nj) of said calling number (4) said ringtone (Sj) to be triggered, characterized in that the means selection (12, 16) are provided for selecting said ring (S ') to be triggered according to the value of a restricted part of said calling number (4), defining a set (Ej) of callers.   2. Selection device (1,121) according to claim 1, ca ractérisé in that q ue lad ite restricted part is rep resentative of a zone   of call origin eVou of a call origin network.   3. Selection device (1,121) according to claim 2, characterized in that said restricted part is chosen from: - a code (53) representative of a communication network, - a code (73) representative of a country, - an indicative (53) representative of a national region eVou of a city, - an indicative (54, 57) representative of a business network,   - and a union of at least two of said callsigns.   -35 4. Selection device (1,121) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the selection means   (12) include: - a selection module (22) of a family (Fj) of rings from at least two available ring families, at least one of said families comprising at least two rings, - and an internal selection module ( 23) from the bell (Sjk) to   trigger within the selected family (Fj).   5. Selection device (1,121) according to claim 4, characterized in that the internal selection module (23) is capable of randomly selecting said ring (Sjk) to be triggered in the family (Fj) selected.   6. Selection device (1,121) according to one of claims 4   or 5, characterized in that the internal selection module (23) is capable of cyclically selecting said ring (Sjk) to be triggered in the family (Fj) selected.   7. Selection device (1,121) according to any one of   Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the internal selection module   (23) is able to select according to time lad ite its nery (Sj k) to   trigger in the selected family (Fj).   8. Selection device (1,121) according to any one of   Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the internal selection module   (23) is able to select according to a partial complementary part of the restricted part of the calling number (4) said ringing tone (Sjk)   to trigger in the selected family (Fj).   -36 9. Selection device (1,121) according to any one of   Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the selection means (12)   comprise an association module (24) for at least one of said families (Fj) comprising at least two rings, from at least partial values of the calling number (4) to rings (Sjk) available in said family (Fj) , said association module (24) being capable of: - receiving from the internal selection module (23) identifiers of at least one of the rings (Sjk) triggered for said family (Fj) and at least partial values of the number caller (4) corresponding to said rings (Sjk), - and to record in at least one association memory (34) said ring identifiers and said at least partial values of the caller number (4) received by the association module (24) and correspondences between said identifiers and said values, and in that the internal selection module (23) is designed to perform the following operations for the selected family (Fj): - examine in the memory association (34) s i the calling number (4) has a value corresponding to at least one of said at least partial recorded values, - in the event of a positive response, select in the lad ite famil le (Fj) said ringtone (Sjk) corresponding to said at least partial value of the calling number (4), - and in case of negative answer, select one of the other   ringtones (Sj k) of said family (Fj).   10. Selection device (1,121) according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the selection means   (12, 16) comprise a unique ring allocation module (21), coupled to at least one unique ring allocation memory (31), said unique ring allocation memory (31) being designed to contain call identifiers ring tones available, complete values of caller number -37 (4) and correspondences between said ring identifiers and said values, and the unequivocal allocation module (21) being provided for: - examining in memory as a priority unequivocal allocation (31) if the calling number (4) has a value corresponding to one of said stored full values, - in the event of a positive response, select said ring (S) corresponding to said full value of calling number (4)   - and if the answer is negative, be inactive.   11. Device for matching (80, 120) ring tones, preferably telephone, available and values associated with a calling number (4), comprising: - means for defining (82) by a user of said values and - selection means (83) by led it uti lisateu r available ring tones corresponding to said values, characterized in that the definition means (82) are provided to relate to the values of a restricted part of the number caller (4), defining a set (Ej) of callers, said matching device (80, 120) being preferably provided to be coupled to a selection device (1, 121)   of ring tones according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   12. A matching device (80, 120) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises means (81) for determining by said user of said restricted part eVou portions of said restricted part of the calling number (4) associated with say values.   -38 13. Matching device (80, 120) according to one   claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the selection means (83)   of ringtones are capable of choosing at least one family of at least two ringtones, corresponding respectively to at least one of said values   defined for the calling number (4).   14. Selection device (1) according to any one of   claims 1 to 10 or matching (120) according to one   any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a   generator (13) of musical ringtones, capable of generating said sounds ring tones available.   15. Device (1, 120) according to claim 14, characterized in that the generator (13) of musical ringtones comprises: - a means of definition (104) of musical moments during which at least four notes are likely to be played, - a means for defining (102) two families of note pitches, for each musical moment, the second family of note pitches having at least one note pitch which is not in the first family of note pitches , - a means of constitution (106) of at least one succession of notes having at least two notes, each succession of notes being called a musical phrase, succession in which, for each moment, each note whose pitch belongs exclusively to the second family is surrounded exclusively by notes from the first family, and - a means of output (108) of a signal representative of each   note pitch of each said succession.   -39 16. Device (1, 120) according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for defining (102) two families of note pitches is adapted to define, for each musical moment, the first family as a set of pitches of note belonging to a chord duplicated from octave to octave. 17. Device (1, 120) according to claim 16, characterized in that the means for defining (102) two families of note pitches is adapted to define the second family of note pitches so that it comprises at least the note pitches of a range that are not in   the first family of note pitches.   18. Device (1, 120) according to any one of claims   to 17, characterized in that the means for constituting (106) at least one succession of notes having at least two notes is adapted so that each musical phrase is defined as a set of notes whose start times are not separated from each other, two by two, more than a predetermined duration.   19. Telephone equipment (2, 122, 132) characterized in that it comprises a device for selecting (1, 121) ring tones according to one   any one of claims 1 to 10 and 14 to 18 and advantageously a   matching device (80, 120) according to any one from claims 11 to 18.   20. Telematic server (6, 7) characterized in that it comprises a matching device (80, 120) according to any one   from claims 11 to 18 and advantageously a selection device (1,   121) of rings according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 14à18.   -40 21. Software product characterized in that it comprises functionalities capable of producing a selection device (1, 121) for   ring tones according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 14 to 18   eVou a matching device (80, 120) according to one   any of claims 1 1 to 18.   22. Method for selecting ringtones, preferably telephonic, in real time, in which: - a caller number (4) is identified, - and a ringtone to be triggered (S ') is selected from at least two available ringtones, function of values (N ') of said calling number (4), characterized in that said ringing signal to be triggered (Sj) is selected as a function of a restricted part of said calling number (4), defining a set ( Ej) callers, said selection process being preferably designed to be implemented by means of a ringtone selection device (1, 121)   according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and 14 to 18.   23. Method for matching ring tones, preferably telephone, available and values associated with a calling number (4), in which: - a user is allowed to define said values, - and said user is allowed to choose said available ringtones corresponding to said values, characterized in that said values relate to a restricted part of said caller number (4), defining a set (Ej) of callers, - 1 led it process being preferably intended to be set _work by means of a matching device (80, 120)   according to any one of claims 11 to 18.