WO2003073733A1 - Telecommunications call tone message system - Google Patents

Telecommunications call tone message system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003073733A1
WO2003073733A1 PCT/SG2002/000222 SG0200222W WO03073733A1 WO 2003073733 A1 WO2003073733 A1 WO 2003073733A1 SG 0200222 W SG0200222 W SG 0200222W WO 03073733 A1 WO03073733 A1 WO 03073733A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
message
exchange
call
telephone
call request
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SG2002/000222
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Beng Sheng Dean Cheong
Suresh Kuttaiyan
Yeow Kang Sung
Original Assignee
Tec3 Innovates Pte Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tec3 Innovates Pte Ltd. filed Critical Tec3 Innovates Pte Ltd.
Priority to AU2002337628A priority Critical patent/AU2002337628A1/en
Publication of WO2003073733A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003073733A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/428—Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
    • H04M3/4285—Notifying, informing or entertaining a held party while on hold, e.g. Music On Hold
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/02—Calling substations, e.g. by ringing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42195—Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
    • H04M3/4872—Non-interactive information services
    • H04M3/4878—Advertisement messages

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a telecommunications call tone system and refers particularly, through not exclusively, to a telephone call tone system.
  • a reference to a call tone is to be taken as including a reference to a ring tone, call back tone and busy/engaged tone.
  • a telephone is to be taken as including a reference to a wired telephone, wireless telephone, mobile telephone, cellular telephone, handphone, all being with or without video functionality, and all other telecommunications enabled devices including facsimile machines, desk top computers, laptop computers, notebook computers and PDAs.
  • the message by being between ringback tones, the message must be very short - less than one second in length. This requires quite accurate clock systems, detection systems, and message broadcast systems, within the message module. This makes the message module expensive, and unreliable.
  • the initiation of the message is also delayed due to the need to check the number called against list of designated numbers.
  • the present invention provides a telecommunications call tone system wherein a message system is provided at or adjacent an exchange to provide a message to a telecommunications device making a call to a number controlled by the exchange, the message being provided continuously between the commencement of the call request and the call request being terminated.
  • the telecommunications device may be a telephone and the message may be an audio or audio-visual message. There may be one or more messages played consecutively.
  • the message system may be connected to a ring line.
  • the message may be generic and is provided to all call requests passing through the exchange to numbers controlled by the exchange. Alternatively, it may be specific to the number called, in which case it may be applied only to calls for that number.
  • the message may be started by a ring tone generated by the exchange during a processing of the call request, the ring tone being transmitted to the message system to enable the message system to start the message.
  • the message may be started after a predetermined number of ring tones.
  • the message may commence with verbal information to replace the ring tone.
  • the present invention provides a telephone exchange including a message system, the telephone exchange having: processing means for processing an incoming call request from a telephone for a number controlled by the telephone exchange, generating means for generating a ringback tone and passing the ringback tone to the messaging system, the message system including means for responding to the ringback tone to produce an audio message to be sent to the telephone until the call request is terminated, the audio message being in substation for the ringback tone.
  • the message may be selected from the group consisting of: advertising information , product information, service information, useful information, and helpful hints.
  • the call request is terminated by at least one selected from the group consisting of: the call being answered, the telephone terminating the call request, and the exchange terminating the call request after a predetermined time.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram; and Figure 2 is a diagram of message portion of Figure 1.
  • a calling telephone 10 that has a switch hook 1. This may also be a call answer, or speaker/microphone, button. Standard circuitry 2 is used in the calling telephone 10.
  • Telephone 10 is connected to a telephone exchange or switching centre (also sometimes called the central office) 4 by two lines (or their optical fibre, microwave, or wireless equivalents) 5 and 6. At the telephone 10 the lines 5 and 6 may form a twisted pair. Line 5 is a ring line and line 6 is the tip line.
  • ring line 5 at or adjacent the exchange 4 Connected to ring line 5 at or adjacent the exchange 4 is a messaging system 3.
  • the ring tone/ring back tone is carried on the telecommunication lines 5 to the exchange 4.
  • Calls that pass through exchange 4 to a number controlled by another exchange (not shown) along trunk lines (not shown) are not intended to activate the present invention.
  • the call is put through a processing request call module 9 and processed.
  • a ring tone/ring back tone is transmitted along an internal switching relay system 7 and the request is transferred along telecommunication lines 11 to the required destination 12.
  • the ring tone/ring back tone sent out activates the messaging system module 3.
  • the module 3 sends commercials, infomercials, music and audible data media that will replace/substitute the existing ring tone/ring back tone. This is carried back to the caller on telecommunication infrastructure line 6.
  • a predetermined number of ring tones/ring back tones may be sent to telephone 10 to indicate to the caller that the number being called is ringing.
  • the predetermined number is preferably small - such as, for example, one, two or three.
  • the first part of the message may be a verbal indication that the called number is "ringing".
  • exchange 4 "connects" telephone 10 to the called number at 12.
  • messaging system 3 operates to pass a message along ring line 5 to telephone 10 where the message is played to the caller rather than the "ring" or "busy” tone. This is in substitution for, or in replacement of, the ring or busy tones.
  • the message may not be played as many callers terminate the call request as soon as they hear the "busy" tone.
  • the message or messages will be continuous and will continue from commencement until one of the following happens:
  • the message may be any audio or audio-visual message such as, for example, advertizing, information, product information, service information, useful information, helpful hints, and so forth. It may be specific to the number called and may therefore be applied only to calls for that number, or may be applied to all calls.
  • the message may be generic and be applied to all calls through the exchanged. It may even be musical. There may be one or more messages. If more than one, they may be played consecutively and continuously, although there may be a relatively short gap between messages to differentiate between them. The playing of messages may continue in a cycle and when each call request is connected to message system module 3 they may have the message(s) from the start of the message(s), or from where the "broadcast" of the messages happens to be at that time.
  • the messages are broadcast to all numbers controlled by exchange 4. Any user may be able to designate that messages are not to be played to their telephone 10, in which case a database can be established so that the messaging system 3 checks the numbers on the database before initiating the messages. If the number of the telephone 10 is on the list, the messaging system reinstates the ringback tones. In all other cases, the messages are broadcast in place of the ringback or other tones.
  • the present invention extends to all features disclosed either individually, or in all possible combinations and permutations.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

A telecommunications call tone system where the usual tones received ba a caller's device (10), such as a ring tone, are replaced by at least one message. A message system module (3) is provided at or adjacent an exchange (4) to provide a message to a telecommunications device (10) making a call to a number/destination (12) controlled by the exchange (4). The message being provided continously between the commencement of the call and the call being answered or terminated in substitution for a call tone.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATIONS CALL TONE MESSAGE SYSTEM
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a telecommunications call tone system and refers particularly, through not exclusively, to a telephone call tone system.
Definitions
Throughout this specification a reference to a call tone is to be taken as including a reference to a ring tone, call back tone and busy/engaged tone.
Throughout this specification reference to a line is to be taken as including a hand- wired cable, and wireless of all forms including 3G, cellular, and Bluetooth.
Throughout this specification reference to a telephone is to be taken as including a reference to a wired telephone, wireless telephone, mobile telephone, cellular telephone, handphone, all being with or without video functionality, and all other telecommunications enabled devices including facsimile machines, desk top computers, laptop computers, notebook computers and PDAs.
Background to the Invention
When telephone systems were first introduced a bell was used to announce a caller's intention to make a call. The bell was to alert an operator to make the call. The bell has been used ever since. Even with the advent of digital telephone systems, the ring tone (and all other tones) are created to replicate those of a bell. In the instance of mobile/cellular/hand telephones, the bell-like ring can be replaced by a tune or chimed bell-like message at the receiver's end. At the caller's end, it still has the replicated bell ring for calling or engaged (busy) or like function. This is also used in other circumstances, such as, for example, facsimile machines. It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a telecommunications call tone system where, the usual tones received by the caller's machine, such as ringing, engaged (busy) or the like, are replaced by at least one message.
Consideration of the Prior Art
In US Reissue patent 34,380 there is disclosed a system for applying messages between ringback tones, or superimposed over ringback tones, when a caller is making a call to designated numbers. By having the message between ringback tones only, messages are not broadcast for other tones such as, for example, busy tones.
Also, by being between ringback tones, the message must be very short - less than one second in length. This requires quite accurate clock systems, detection systems, and message broadcast systems, within the message module. This makes the message module expensive, and unreliable.
The initiation of the message is also delayed due to the need to check the number called against list of designated numbers.
Summary of the Invention
With the above and other objects in mind the present invention provides a telecommunications call tone system wherein a message system is provided at or adjacent an exchange to provide a message to a telecommunications device making a call to a number controlled by the exchange, the message being provided continuously between the commencement of the call request and the call request being terminated.
The telecommunications device may be a telephone and the message may be an audio or audio-visual message. There may be one or more messages played consecutively.
The message system may be connected to a ring line. The message may be generic and is provided to all call requests passing through the exchange to numbers controlled by the exchange. Alternatively, it may be specific to the number called, in which case it may be applied only to calls for that number.
The message may be started by a ring tone generated by the exchange during a processing of the call request, the ring tone being transmitted to the message system to enable the message system to start the message. The message may be started after a predetermined number of ring tones. Alternatively, the message may commence with verbal information to replace the ring tone.
In another form, the present invention provides a telephone exchange including a message system, the telephone exchange having: processing means for processing an incoming call request from a telephone for a number controlled by the telephone exchange, generating means for generating a ringback tone and passing the ringback tone to the messaging system, the message system including means for responding to the ringback tone to produce an audio message to be sent to the telephone until the call request is terminated, the audio message being in substation for the ringback tone.
The message may be selected from the group consisting of: advertising information , product information, service information, useful information, and helpful hints.
The call request is terminated by at least one selected from the group consisting of: the call being answered, the telephone terminating the call request, and the exchange terminating the call request after a predetermined time.
Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be better understood and readily put into practical effect there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram; and Figure 2 is a diagram of message portion of Figure 1.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
To refer to the drawings, there is schematically shown a calling telephone 10 that has a switch hook 1. This may also be a call answer, or speaker/microphone, button. Standard circuitry 2 is used in the calling telephone 10.
Telephone 10 is connected to a telephone exchange or switching centre (also sometimes called the central office) 4 by two lines (or their optical fibre, microwave, or wireless equivalents) 5 and 6. At the telephone 10 the lines 5 and 6 may form a twisted pair. Line 5 is a ring line and line 6 is the tip line.
Connected to ring line 5 at or adjacent the exchange 4 is a messaging system 3. When caller telephone 10 makes a call to a number controlled by exchange 4, the ring tone/ring back tone is carried on the telecommunication lines 5 to the exchange 4. Calls that pass through exchange 4 to a number controlled by another exchange (not shown) along trunk lines (not shown) are not intended to activate the present invention.
The call is put through a processing request call module 9 and processed. During the processing time a ring tone/ring back tone is transmitted along an internal switching relay system 7 and the request is transferred along telecommunication lines 11 to the required destination 12. The ring tone/ring back tone sent out activates the messaging system module 3. The module 3 sends commercials, infomercials, music and audible data media that will replace/substitute the existing ring tone/ring back tone. This is carried back to the caller on telecommunication infrastructure line 6. A predetermined number of ring tones/ring back tones may be sent to telephone 10 to indicate to the caller that the number being called is ringing. The predetermined number is preferably small - such as, for example, one, two or three. Alternatively, the first part of the message may be a verbal indication that the called number is "ringing". When the calling telephone 10 is operated by operating switch 1, upon the desired called number being entered, exchange 4 "connects" telephone 10 to the called number at 12. Rather than a "ring" tone or "busy" tone being played at telephone 10, messaging system 3 operates to pass a message along ring line 5 to telephone 10 where the message is played to the caller rather than the "ring" or "busy" tone. This is in substitution for, or in replacement of, the ring or busy tones. For a "busy" tone, in the alternative, the message may not be played as many callers terminate the call request as soon as they hear the "busy" tone.
The message or messages will be continuous and will continue from commencement until one of the following happens:
(i) the call is answered at destination 12;
(ii) exchange 4 terminates the call after a predetermined time;
(iii) caller at telephone 10 terminates the call.
This eliminates or reduces the system requirements to a "start" and "stop" function, thus considerably simplifying the implementation of the present invention over prior art devices.
The message may be any audio or audio-visual message such as, for example, advertizing, information, product information, service information, useful information, helpful hints, and so forth. It may be specific to the number called and may therefore be applied only to calls for that number, or may be applied to all calls. The message may be generic and be applied to all calls through the exchanged. It may even be musical. There may be one or more messages. If more than one, they may be played consecutively and continuously, although there may be a relatively short gap between messages to differentiate between them. The playing of messages may continue in a cycle and when each call request is connected to message system module 3 they may have the message(s) from the start of the message(s), or from where the "broadcast" of the messages happens to be at that time.
The messages are broadcast to all numbers controlled by exchange 4. Any user may be able to designate that messages are not to be played to their telephone 10, in which case a database can be established so that the messaging system 3 checks the numbers on the database before initiating the messages. If the number of the telephone 10 is on the list, the messaging system reinstates the ringback tones. In all other cases, the messages are broadcast in place of the ringback or other tones.
Anything that may be used in "call-on-hold" systems may be used with the present invention, except it is before the call is answered, rather than after, that the message is played. This is why messaging system 3 is at or adjacent exchange 4 rather than at the calling or called number premises - it is to be used on all calls passing through exchange 4. With "call-on-hold" messages, these are installed at all premises desiring such a feature, thus leading to a significant duplication in hardware and the associated costs.
Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology that many variations or modifications in details of design, construction or operation may be made without departing from the present invention.
The present invention extends to all features disclosed either individually, or in all possible combinations and permutations.

Claims

The Claims:
1. A telecommunications call tone system wherein a message system is provided at or adjacent an exchange to provide a message to a telecommunications device making a call to a number controlled by the exchange, the message being provided continuously between the commencement of the call request and the call request being terminated in substitution for a call tone.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device is a telephone.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the message is an audio or audio- visual message.
4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the message is selected from the group consisting of advertizing information, product information, service information, music, useful information, music, and helpful hints.
5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the message system is connected to a ring line.
6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the message is generic and is provided to all calls passing through the exchange to numbers controlled by the exchange.
7. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the message is specific to the number being called.
8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the message is only applied to calls for the number relevant for the message.
9. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the call request is terminated by at least one selected from the group consisting of: the call being answered, the telecommunications device terminating the call request, and the exchange terminating the call request after a predetermined time.
10. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the message is started by a ring tone generated by the exchange during a processing of the call request, the ring tone being transmitted to the message system to enable the message system to start the message.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the message is started after a predetermined number of ringback tones are sent to the telecommunication device.
12. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein there are a plurality of messages broadcast consecutively.
13. A telephone exchange including a message system, the telephone exchange having: processing means for processing an incoming call request from a telephone for a number controlled by the telephone exchange, generating means for generating a ring tone and passing the ring tone to the messaging system, the message system including means for responding to the ring tone to produce an audio or audio-visual message to be sent to the telephone until the call request is terminated, the message being in substitution for the ringback tone.
14. A telephone exchange as claimed in claim 12, wherein the message is selected from the group consisting of: advertising
Figure imgf000010_0001
product information, service information, useful information, music, and helpful hints.
15. A telephone exchange as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the call request is terminated by at least one selected from the group consisting of: the call being answered, the telephone terminating the call request, and the exchange terminating the call request after a predetermined time.
PCT/SG2002/000222 2002-02-06 2002-09-25 Telecommunications call tone message system WO2003073733A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002337628A AU2002337628A1 (en) 2002-02-06 2002-09-25 Telecommunications call tone message system

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SG200200718-5 2002-02-06
SG200200718 2002-02-06
SG200203755 2002-06-20
SG200203755-4 2002-06-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003073733A1 true WO2003073733A1 (en) 2003-09-04

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SG2002/000222 WO2003073733A1 (en) 2002-02-06 2002-09-25 Telecommunications call tone message system

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002337628A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003073733A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992004782A1 (en) * 1990-09-10 1992-03-19 Motorola, Inc. Radio telephone system supporting busy and out-of-range functions
USRE34380E (en) * 1986-09-05 1993-09-14 Method and apparatus for applying messages in a telecommunications network
EP0920165A1 (en) * 1997-11-28 1999-06-02 Bonanno, Alfio Telephone answering system for special phone message services during the waiting time between the end of dialling and the answer of the called user

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE34380E (en) * 1986-09-05 1993-09-14 Method and apparatus for applying messages in a telecommunications network
WO1992004782A1 (en) * 1990-09-10 1992-03-19 Motorola, Inc. Radio telephone system supporting busy and out-of-range functions
EP0920165A1 (en) * 1997-11-28 1999-06-02 Bonanno, Alfio Telephone answering system for special phone message services during the waiting time between the end of dialling and the answer of the called user

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002337628A1 (en) 2003-09-09

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