WO2004006555A1

WO2004006555A1 - Apparatus for offering service for distinguishing callers and operating method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2004006555A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Gi An
Original assignee: Hyun-Gi An
Priority date: 2002-07-04
Filing date: 2003-07-04
Publication date: 2004-01-15
Also published as: AU2003246096A1; KR20040003808A

Abstract

An apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers and an operating method thereof are provided. The apparatus generates a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone according to the request of each of a plurality of users and manages a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to the distinguishing caller image and data of the ring tone of each user When a certain caller’s mobile communication terminal number is received from a mobile communication exchange, the apparatus extracts a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data, which correspond to the caller’s mobile communication terminal number, and provides them to the mobile communication exchange so that they are transmitted to a predetermined callee’s mobile communication terminal.

Description

APPARATUS FOR OFFERING SERVICE FOR DISTINGUISHING CALLERS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers and an operating method thereof, and more particularly, to an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers so that when a mobile communication terminal has an incoming call, information (for example, an avatar or an incoming ring tone) regarding a caller is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal, and an operating method thereof.

Background Art

With the wide spread of mobile communication terminals, various service functions, for example, Internet connection functions, are provided for mobile communication terminals. Via the Internet connection functions, users can acquire various information (for example, stock information, news information, exchange rate information, weather information, and fortune-telling information) offered on the Internet or easily carry out economic activities.

While mobile communication terminals provide much convenience in life, they cause a serious social problem of intrusion into private life, such as call violence, prank calls, and stalking.

In order to minimize the problem, mobile communication companies offer caller identification (CID) services in which when a mobile communication terminal has an incoming call, information (for example, a telephone number) regarding a caller is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal. Resultantly, mobile communication terminal users can check callers before attempting to talk with the callers, and therefore, the users are allowed not to talk with callers who they do not want to talk with. In addition, the CID services satisfy the users' desires to know about callers.

However, such CID services provide only a caller's telephone number when a user's mobile communication terminal has an incoming call from the caller. They do not provide additional information (for example, an avatar) expressing the caller's characteristics.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention provides an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus supporting mobile communication terminal users to set their distinguishing caller images (for example, avatars) and providing a distinguishing caller image corresponding to a caller to a mobile communication terminal, to which the caller makes a call, in association with a mobile communication company (i.e., a mobile communication exchange manager), and an operating method thereof.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus supporting mobile communication terminal users to set their ring tones and providing a ring tone corresponding to a caller to a mobile communication terminal, to which the caller makes a call, in association with a mobile communication company, and an operating method thereof.

The present invention also provides an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus supporting mobile communication terminal users to set their distinguishing caller images and ring tones and providing a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone, which correspond to a caller, to a mobile communication terminal, to which the caller makes a call, in association with a mobile communication company, and an operating method thereof. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers. The apparatus includes a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information and a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to a distinguishing caller image generated according to each user's request, and detailed information of the distinguishing caller image; a distinguishing caller image processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's distinguishing caller image generation request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for the caller and transmits the distinguishing caller image assembly code to a data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the distinguishing caller image assembly code from the distinguishing caller image processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller image assembly code is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers. The apparatus includes a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information and ring tone data set according to each user's request, and data of a plurality of ring tones; a ring tone processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's ring tone setup request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for ring tone data set for the caller and transmits the ring tone data to a data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the ring tone data from the ring tone processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the ring tone data is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers. The apparatus includes a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information, a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to a distinguishing caller image generated according to each user's request, and ring tone data set according to each user's request, detailed information of the distinguishing caller image, and data of a plurality of ring tones; a distinguishing caller image processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's distinguishing caller image generation request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for the caller and transmits the distinguishing caller image assembly code to a data output unit; a ring tone processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's ring tone setup request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for ring tone data set for the caller and transmits the ring tone data to the data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the distinguishing caller image assembly code from the distinguishing caller image processing unit and the ring tone data from the ring tone processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller image assembly code and the ring tone data are transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers. The method includes (a) registering and managing distinguishing caller information of each user registered as a member; (b) editing or modifying the distinguishing caller information at each user's request, and re-registering and managing the edited or modified distinguishing caller information; (c) receiving a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information from a mobile communication exchange; (d) searching for a distinguishing caller assembly code, set for the caller, based on the caller's mobile communication terminal information; and (e) outputting the distinguishing caller assembly code to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller assembly code is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating method of an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention. FIGS. 2A through 2C are block diagrams of an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to different embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a distinguishing caller image element list provided by an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing examples of a face shape among distinguishing caller image elements provided by an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of operating an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a procedure in which an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention generates distinguishing caller information.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation between an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention and a mobile communication exchange.

Best mode for carrying out the Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operating method of an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers (referred to as a caller distinguishment service apparatus) 60 subjects users, who access the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 using a plurality of user mobile communication terminals 10 via a base station 20, a wireless Internet gateway 30, and Internet 40, to a login procedure, generates a distinguishing caller image (for example, an avatar) and sets a ring tone at the request of each user, and manages a distinguishing caller image assembly code matching the distinguishing caller image and ring tone data of each user. The caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 can be directly connected to the wireless Internet gateway 30 through a predetermined private line when performing a series of processes according to the request of each user. Operations among the base station 20, the wireless Internet gateway 30, and the Internet 40 are widely known to those skilled in the art, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Users can access the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 using user terminals (for example, personal computers) 50, instead of the user mobile communication terminals 10, via the Internet 40. In this situation, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 operates in the same manner as described above. Hereinafter, an assumption is made that a user accesses the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 using a user terminal 50.

FIGS. 2A through 2C are block diagrams of a caller distinguishment service apparatus according to different embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60, which provides a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone as means for distinguishing a caller, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60, which provides only a distinguishing caller image as a means for distinguishing a caller from other users, according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2C is a block diagram of the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60, which provides only a ring tone as a means for distinguishing a caller, according to still another embodiment of the present invention. A data input unit 61, a member processing unit 62, a program providing unit 63, a distinguishing caller image processing unit 64, and a data output unit 67 are commonly included in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2A and the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2B. The data input unit 61 , the member processing unit 62, a ring tone processing unit 65, and the data output unit 67 are commonly included in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2A and the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2C. A database (DB) unit 66 shown in FIG. 2A includes DBs included in a DB unit 66a shown in FIG. 2B and DBs included in a DB unit 66b shown in FIG. 2C. Accordingly, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 offering a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone as means for distinguishing a caller from other users will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. Referring to FIG. 2A, the caller distinguishment service apparatus

60 includes the data input unit 61 , the member processing unit 62, the program providing unit 63, the distinguishing caller image processing unit 64, the ring tone processing unit 65, the DB unit 66, and the data output unit 67. The DB unit 66 includes a member information management DB

661 , a distinguishing caller image management DB 662, a member's transmission information management DB 663, and a ring tone management DB 664.

The member information management DB 661 manages detailed information regarding a user registered in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 as a member, such as an ID, a password, a name, sex, where to make contact, and an occupation. Where to make contact may be a home address, a work address, a mobile phone number, a home phone number, or an e-mail address. The distinguishing caller image management DB 662 manages detailed information regarding a distinguishing caller image, such as image elements, shapes of each element, and a matching code corresponding to each shape. For example, when elements of the distinguishing caller image are a face shape, a body, eyes, a nose, a mouth, hair, coordination, a facial expression, and a motion, these elements are managed in order in which they are arranged above and respectively coded into #1 through #9. Here, if the face shape has 99 formats, these formats are sequentially coded into #101 through #109 and managed in order. In the same manner, formats of each of the other elements including the body, the eyes, the nose, and the mouth are coded and managed.

The ring tone management DB 664 manages ring tone data. The ring tone management DB 664 classifies a plurality of ring tones into a plurality of categories and separately manages melodies of the ring tones according to the categories. For example, when a basic bell sound, drama music, a popular song, and a movie sound track are the categories of ring tones, these ring tone categories are managed in order, and melodies corresponding to different ring tone categories are separately managed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a matching code for a distinguishing caller image and ring tone data are represented with different symbols "#" and "*", respectively. These symbols "#" and "*" are just examples, and other methods for distinguishing the matching code and the ring tone can be used.

The member's transmission information management DB 663 manages a distinguishing caller image assembly code, ring tone data, and mobile communication terminal information (i.e., mobile communication terminal number) of each user. The user is a member registered in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60, and the distinguishing caller image assembly code and the ring tone data are generated and set by the user. For example, when the user selects No. 7 for the face shape, No. 9 for the body, No. 11 for the eyes, No. 22 for the nose, No. 30 for the mouth, No. 2 for the hair, No. 58 for the coordination, No. 66 for the facial expression, and No. 52 for the motion, a distinguishing caller image is generated by assembling formats corresponding to the selected codes. If the user requests to store the distinguishing caller image, the member's transmission information management DB 663 is managed a distinguishing caller image assembly code, i.e.,

#107209311422530602758866952, corresponding to the distinguishing caller image together with the user's mobile communication terminal number.

In addition, when the user selects the movie sound track among the ring tone categories and selects a certain melody among a plurality of melodies included in the movie sound track, the selected melody is provided to the user. If the user requests to store the melody, the member's transmission information management DB 663 is managed data of the melody.

The data input unit 61 receives a user's operating signal transmitted from a user terminal 50 through the Internet 40 and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange 200 shown in FIG. 7.

When a member registration request signal is received from the user terminal 50 through the data input unit 61 , the member processing unit 62 provides a member registration procedure environment to the user, registers detailed information entered by the user in the member information management DB 661 , and manages it.

In addition, when the user initially requests the member registration, the member processing unit 62 requests the program providing unit 63 to provide a distinguishing caller image execution program to the user mobile communication terminal 10. Then, the program providing unit 63 provides the distinguishing caller image execution program to the user mobile communication terminal 10 through the data output unit 67.

When a distinguishing caller image generation request signal is received from the user terminal 50 through the data input unit 61 , a distinguishing caller image generator 641 of the distinguishing caller image processing unit 64 extracts distinguishing caller image elements from the distinguishing caller image management DB 662, generates a list of the distinguishing caller image elements (hereinafter, referred to as a distinguishing caller image element list) shown in FIG. 3, and transmits the distinguishing caller image element list to the user terminal 50 through the data output unit 67.

If the user selects the face shape (#1) from the distinguishing caller image element list displayed on the user terminal 50, the distinguishing caller image generator 641 extracts the formats of the face shape (#1) from the distinguishing caller image management DB 662 and transmits them to the user terminal 50 through the data output unit 67 so that the formats of the face shape (#1) are displayed on the user terminal 50, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows 16 formats of the face shape (#1). Each of the 16 formats is provided together with a matching code. If the user types a number corresponding to a certain matching code, for example, 02, or selects a desired format using a device such as a mouse (not shown), the selected format of the face shape (#1) is enlarged on a screen of the user terminal 50. Here, a matching code of the selected format of the face shape (#1) will be #102. The distinguishing caller image generator 641 performs the same operate as described above when the user selects other distinguishing caller image elements, assembles matching codes corresponding to selected formats of the distinguishing caller image elements, and generates a distinguishing caller image. Thereafter, when the user requests to store the generated distinguishing caller image, a distinguishing caller image provider 642 of the distinguishing caller image processing unit 64 registers a distinguishing caller image assembly code (for example, #102203303402501608712813910) corresponding to the distinguishing caller image and the user's mobile communication terminal information in the member's transmission information management DB 663 and manages them. The distinguishing caller image provider 642 can encode the distinguishing caller image assembly code before registering it in order to prevent the distinguishing caller image assembly code from being easily copied or guessed. When caller mobile communication terminal information is received from the mobile communication exchange 200 through the data input unit 61 , the distinguishing caller image provider 642 extracts a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for a caller (registered as a member) having the received caller mobile communication terminal information from the member's transmission information management DB 663 and provides the distinguishing caller image assembly code to the data output unit 67.

When a ring tone setup request signal is received from the user terminal 50 through the data input unit 61 , a ring tone setup section 651 of the ring tone processing unit 65 extracts the ring tone categories from the ring tone management DB 664, generates a list of the ring tone categories (hereinafter, referred to as a ring tone category list), and transmits the ring tone category list to the user terminal 50 through the data output unit 67. If the user selects a certain ring tone category (for example, the popular song) from the ring tone category list (including, for example, the basic bell sound, the drama music, the popular song, and the movie sound track) displayed on the screen of the user terminal 50, the ring tone setup section 651 extracts melodies corresponding to the selected ring tone category (i.e., the popular song) from the ring tone management DB 664 and provides them to the user. If the user selects one of the melodies corresponding to the popular song, the ring tone setup section 651 extracts data of the selected melody from the ring tone management DB 664 and provides the data to the user. When the user request to store the selected melody, the ring tone provider 652 of the ring tone processing unit 65 registers the data of the melody together with the user's mobile communication terminal information in the member's transmission information management DB 663 and manages them. When the user's mobile communication terminal information has already been registered in the member's transmission information management DB 663, it is preferable that the ring tone provider 652 registers only the data of the selected melody, i.e., ring tone data, in order to prevent redundant registration of the user's mobile communication terminal information. In addition, when caller mobile communication terminal information is received from the mobile communication exchange 200 through the data input unit 61 , the ring tone provider 652 extracts ring tone data set for a caller (registered as a member) corresponding to the received caller mobile communication terminal information from the member's transmission information management DB 663 and provides the ring tone data to the output unit 67.

The data output unit 67 outputs the distinguishing caller image execution program provided from the program providing unit 63 to the user mobile communication terminal 10. In addition, the data output unit 67 outputs the distinguishing caller image assembly code and the ring tone data provided from the distinguishing caller image processing unit 64 and the ring tone processing unit 65, respectively, to the mobile communication exchange 200 so that they are transmitted to a callee's mobile communication terminal. When a user registered as a member requests to edit or modify a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 of the present invention performs editing or modification and re-registers and manages an assembly code of the edited or modified distinguishing caller image and data of the edited or modified ring tone in the member's transmission information management DB 663.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of operating the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 performs a member registration procedure on users wishing to be registered therein and registers and manages detailed information regarding each of the users registered as members (S100).

Next, distinguishing caller information is generated at the request of a user registered as a member and managed (S200). Step S200 will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 6. Thereafter, when caller mobile communication terminal information (i.e., caller mobile communication terminal number) is received from the mobile communication exchange 200 (S300), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 extracts distinguishing caller assembly code (i.e., a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data) set for the caller mobile communication terminal information and outputs it to the mobile communication exchange 200 so that it is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal (S400).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of step S200 performed by the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60. When a user registered as a member requests to generate a distinguishing caller image (S201), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 generates a distinguishing caller image element list and provides the distinguishing caller image element list to the user (S202). Next, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 assembles formats of distinguishing caller image elements, which are selected by the user referring to the distinguishing caller image element list, so as to generate a distinguishing caller image (S203).

If the user requests to store the distinguishing caller image (S204), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 stores a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to the distinguishing caller image and mobile communication terminal information of the user (S205). If the user does not request the storage of the distinguishing caller image, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 returns to step S202.

In the meantime, when the user request to set a ring tone (S206), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 generates a ring tone category list and provides the ring tone category list to the user (S207).

If the user selects a certain ring tone category (for example, a popular song) from the ring tone category list (including, for example, a basic bell sound, drama music, a popular song, and a movie sound track), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 extracts melodies corresponding to the selected ring tone category (i.e., the popular song), provides them to the user, and provides data of a melody selected from the provided melodies by the user (S208).

If the user request to store the data of the melody (S209), the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 stores the data of the melody as ring tone data and the user's mobile communication terminal information (S210). If the user does not request the storage of the data of the melody, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 returns to step S207. The caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2B performs only steps S201 through S205, and the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2C performs only steps 206 through S210.

The caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2B extracts only the distinguishing caller image assembly code as the distinguishing caller assembly code and provides it to the mobile communication exchange 200 in step S400. The caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2C extracts only the ring tone data as the distinguishing caller assembly code and provides it to the mobile communication exchange 200 in step S400. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation between a caller distinguishment service apparatus according to the present invention and a mobile communication exchange. As shown in FIG. 7, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 can be provided outside the mobile communication exchange 200 and operate in association with the mobile communication exchange 200 to provide a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data to a callee mobile communication terminal 10b. Alternatively, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 can be provided inside the mobile communication exchange 200 and operate in association with the mobile communication exchange 200 to provide a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data to a callee mobile communication terminal 10b. Hereinafter, an assumption is made that the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 is provided outside the mobile communication exchange 200. Referring to FIG. 7, user mobile communication terminals at a transmitting party (hereinafter, referred to as a caller mobile communication terminal) 10a and user mobile communication terminals at a receiving party (hereinafter, referred to as a callee mobile communication terminal) 10b have a distinguishing caller image execution program provided by the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60. When a user inputs distinguishing caller symbols and a callee mobile communication terminal number and then presses a start call button, a caller mobile communication terminal 10a generates call request data including the distinguishing caller symbols, the callee mobile communication terminal number, and a caller mobile communication terminal number. Thereafter, the caller mobile communication terminal 10a transmits the call request data to a base station 20 through a predetermined channel (i.e., an access channel). The call request data is transmitted from the base station 20 to a base station controller 100. Here, if the user does not input the distinguishing caller symbols, the call request data does not include the distinguishing caller symbols.

The distinguishing caller symbols are particular symbols (for example, "#*") input by a user when the user requests use of a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone. It is preferable that the distinguishing caller symbols are the same as distinguishing symbols used for distinguishing a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60.

When the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2B, in which only a distinguishing caller image is provided as a means for distinguishing callers, is used, the user can request to use of a distinguishing caller image using a distinguishing caller symbol "#". When the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2C, in which only a ring tone is provided as a means for distinguishing callers, is used, the user can request to use of a ring tone using a distinguishing caller symbol "*". It is assumed that the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2A, in which both a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone are provided as means for distinguishing callers, is used as the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 7.

At present, a code division multiple access (CDMA) method is used in a mobile communication network. In the CDMA, when an access from a base station to a mobile communication terminal (i.e., a forward link) is performed, a pilot channel, a sync channel, a paring channel, and a traffic channel are used. When an access from a mobile communication terminal to a base station (i.e., a reverse link) is performed, an access channel and a traffic channel are used. The function of each channel is widely known to those skilled in the art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The base station 20 and the base station controller 100 transmits the call request data to the mobile communication exchange 200. The operation between the base station 20 and the base station controller 100 is widely known to those skilled in the art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Upon receiving the call request data from the base station 20 and the base station controller 100, the mobile communication exchange 200 extracts the caller mobile communication terminal information (i.e., caller mobile communication terminal number) from the call request data and transmits it to a home location register (HLR) 300 to request authentication of the caller and authentication of the caller mobile communication terminal 10a. Thereafter, the mobile communication exchange 200 temporarily stores information regarding the caller mobile communication terminal 10a in a visitor location register (VLR) (not shown) in response to completion of the authentication by the HLR 300.

The HLR 300 is a DB storing information regarding each of all mobile communication subscribers (i.e., mobile communication terminal users) and provides information regarding each subscriber to the mobile communication exchange 200 when a call signal is generated from a mobile communication terminal, when a location of a mobile communication terminal is registered, or when a call signal is received by a mobile communication terminal. Thereafter, the mobile communication exchange 200 determines whether the call request data includes a distinguishing caller symbol. When it is determined that the call request data includes the distinguishing caller symbol, the mobile communication exchange 200 extracts the caller mobile communication terminal number from the call request data and transmits it to the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60. Then, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 extracts a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data, which correspond to the caller mobile communication terminal number and transmits them to the mobile communication exchange 200. Meanwhile, when the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2B is used in FIG. 7, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 extracts the distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to the caller mobile communication terminal number received from the mobile communication exchange 200 and transmits it to the mobile communication exchange 200. When the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 2C is used in FIG. 7, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 extracts the ring tone data corresponding to the caller mobile communication terminal number received from the mobile communication exchange 200 and transmits it to the mobile communication exchange 200.

Thereafter, the mobile communication exchange 200 generates a distinguishing call data including the distinguishing caller image assembly code and the ring tone data, which are received from the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60, and a call signal and transmits the distinguishing call data to the base station control 100 so that the distinguishing call data is provided to a callee mobile communication terminal 10b corresponding to the callee mobile communication terminal number included in the call request data through the base station 20.

Here, if the callee mobile communication terminal 10b is determined as being managed by other mobile communication exchange 500, the mobile communication exchange 200 transmits the distinguishing call data to the other mobile communication exchange 500. If the call request data is included not the callee mobile communication terminal number but the callee wired terminal number, the mobile communication exchange 200 transmits the distinguishing call data to a public switching network 400. Hereinafter, it is assumed that a caller and a callee use a terminal having the same mobile communication exchange number (for example, 011 , 016, or 019).

If it is determined that the call request data transmitted from the caller mobile communication terminal 10 does not include the distinguishing caller symbol, the mobile communication exchange 200 transmits only the call signal to the callee mobile communication terminal 10b corresponding to the callee mobile communication terminal number included in the call request data.

Upon receiving the distinguishing call data through a paging channel allocated by the base station 20, the callee mobile communication terminal 10b starts the distinguishing caller image execution program previously provided therein so as to generate and display a distinguishing caller image corresponding to the distinguishing caller image assembly code included in the distinguishing call data on a screen and output a ring tone corresponding to the ring tone data included in the distinguishing call data through a speaker (not shown).

Here, the distinguishing caller image execution program includes a DB which is the same as the distinguishing caller image management DB 662 included in the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 and thus generates a distinguishing caller image by assembling formats corresponding to the distinguishing caller image assembly code. For example, when the distinguishing caller image assembly code is "#102203303402501608712813910", the distinguishing caller image execution program analyzes "102" as a second format (02) of a face shape (#1) and "203" as a third format (03) of a body (#2). In such a manner, the distinguishing caller image execution program analyzes the distinguishing caller image assembly code into formats of respective elements and assembles the formats into a distinguishing caller image.

When the distinguishing caller image assembly code has been encoded, the distinguishing caller image execution program decodes the distinguishing caller image assembly code and performs the above-described operation. The DB included in the distinguishing caller image execution program is updated whenever the distinguishing caller image management DB 662 is updated. In other words, when distinguishing caller image management DB 662 is updated, the caller distinguishment service apparatus 60 transmits the updated distinguishing caller image management DB 662 to all of the mobile communication terminals 10a and 10b of users registered as members so as to update the distinguishing caller image execution program provided in each of the mobile communication terminals 10a and 10b. Thereafter, when a callee presses a start call button, the callee mobile communication terminal 10b transmits a call acceptance signal to the base station 20 and supports a communication between the caller and the callee through a predetermined traffic channel.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiments will be considered not in restrictive sense but in descriptive sense only. The scope of the invention will be defined not by the above description but by the appended claims, and it will be construed that all differences made within the scope defined by the claims are included in the present invention.

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention, when a callee's mobile communication terminal has an incoming call, a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone, which are set by a caller, are provided to the callee's mobile communication terminal. Therefore, the caller's desire to promote himself/herself can be satisfied, and the callee can easily distinguish callers. In addition, a mobile terminal user's interest in calling using a mobile terminal can be increased, which will increase the number of subscribers to mobile communication. Consequently, a mobile communication company (i.e., a mobile communication exchange manager) has an increase in benefit.

In the present invention, distinguishing means (for example, images of animals, plants, or things) other than a distinguishing caller image and a ring tone can be easily used.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus comprising: a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information and a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to a distinguishing caller image generated according to each user's request, and detailed information of the distinguishing caller image; a distinguishing caller image processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's distinguishing caller image generation request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for the caller and transmits the distinguishing caller image assembly code to a data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the distinguishing caller image assembly code from the distinguishing caller image processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller image assembly code is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the database unit comprises: a distinguishing caller image management database, which manages elements of a distinguishing caller image, formats of each elements, and a matching code corresponding to each format; and a member's transmission information management database, which manages each user's distinguishing caller information, the user having been registered as a member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distinguishing caller image processing unit comprises: a distinguishing caller image generator, which generates a distinguishing caller image element list referring to the distinguishing caller image management database at a user's request to generate a distinguishing caller image, provides the distinguishing caller image element list to the user, and generates a distinguishing caller image according to the user's selection of a format of each element referring to the distinguishing caller image element list; and a distinguishing caller image provider, which registers distinguishing caller information in the member's transmission information management database at the user's request to store the distinguishing caller image, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received from the data input unit, searches the member's transmission information management database for a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for the caller and provides the distinguishing caller image assembly code to the data output unit.

4. An apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus comprising: a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information and ring tone data set according to each user's request, and data of a plurality of ring tones; a ring tone processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's ring tone setup request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for ring tone data set for the caller and transmits the ring tone data to a data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the ring tone data from the ring tone processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the ring tone data is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the database unit comprises: a ring tone management database, which manages the data of plurality of ring tones; and a member's transmission information management database, which manages each user's distinguishing caller information, the user having been registered as a member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the ring tone processing unit comprises: a ring tone setup section, which generates a ring tone category list referring to the ring tone management database at a user's request to set a ring tone, provides the ring tone category list to the user, and sets a ring tone according to the user's selection; and a ring tone provider, which registers distinguishing caller information in the member's transmission information management database at the user's request to store the ring tone, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received from the data input unit, searches the member's transmission information management database for the ring tone data set for the caller and provides the ring tone data to the data output unit.

7. An apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the apparatus comprising: a data input unit, which receives a user's operating signal transmitted through a communication network and caller mobile communication terminal information transmitted from a mobile communication exchange; a database unit, which manages detailed information regarding each of a plurality of users registered as members, distinguishing caller information comprising each user's mobile communication terminal information, a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to a distinguishing caller image generated according to each user's request, and ring tone data set according to each user's request, detailed information of the distinguishing caller image, and data of a plurality of ring tones; a distinguishing caller image processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's distinguishing caller image generation request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for a distinguishing caller image assembly code set for the caller and transmits the distinguishing caller image assembly code to a data output unit; a ring tone processing unit, which generates the distinguishing caller information according to each user's ring tone setup request received through the data input unit, registers the distinguishing caller information in the database unit, and when a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information is received through the data input unit, searches for ring tone data set for the caller and transmits the ring tone data to the data output unit; and a data output unit, which outputs the distinguishing caller image assembly code from the distinguishing caller image processing unit and the ring tone data from the ring tone processing unit to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller image assembly code and the ring tone data are transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the database unit comprises: a distinguishing caller image management database, which manages elements of a distinguishing caller image, formats of each elements, and a matching code corresponding to each format; a ring tone management database, which manages the data of plurality of ring tones; and a member's transmission information management database, which manages each user's distinguishing caller information, the user having been registered as a member.

9. A method of operating an apparatus for offering a service for distinguishing callers, the method comprising:

(a) registering and managing distinguishing caller information of each user registered as a member; (b) editing or modifying the distinguishing caller information at each user's request, and re-registering and managing the edited or modified distinguishing caller information;

(c) receiving a certain caller's mobile communication terminal information from a mobile communication exchange;

(d) searching for a distinguishing caller assembly code, set for the caller, based on the caller's mobile communication terminal information; and

(e) outputting the distinguishing caller assembly code to the mobile communication exchange so that the distinguishing caller assembly code is transmitted to a predetermined callee's mobile communication terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) comprises: (a1) performing a member registration procedure on each user accessing through a communication network; and

(a2) generating the distinguishing caller information according to each user's request to generate a distinguishing caller image, and registering and managing the distinguishing caller information, each user being registered as a member.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a2) comprises: (a21) generating a distinguishing caller image element list at the user's request to generate a distinguishing caller image, providing the distinguishing caller image element list to the user, and generating the distinguishing caller image by assembling formats selected by the user referring to the distinguishing caller image element list; and

(a22) when the user requests to store the distinguishing caller image, registering and managing a distinguishing caller image assembly code corresponding to the distinguishing caller image and mobile communication terminal information of the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the distinguishing caller assembly code is a distinguishing caller image assembly code.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) comprises:

(a1) performing a member registration procedure on each user accessing through a communication network; and

(a2) generating the distinguishing caller information according to each user's request to set a ring tone, and registering and managing the distinguishing caller information, each user being registered as a member.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (a2) comprises: (a21) generating a ring tone category list at the user's request to set a ring tone, providing the ring tone category list to the user, and providing the ring tone according to the user's selection; and

(a22) when the user requests to store the ring tone, registering and managing a data of the ring tone and mobile communication terminal information of the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the distinguishing caller assembly code is ring tone data.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein step (a) comprises: (a1) performing a member registration procedure on each user accessing through a communication network;

(a2) generating a distinguishing caller image according to each user's request to generate a distinguishing caller image, and registering and managing the distinguishing caller image, each user being registered as a member; and (a3) setting a ring tone according to each user's request to set a ring tone, and registering and managing the ring tone, each user being registered as a member.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a2) comprises:

(a21) generating a distinguishing caller image element list at the user's request to generate a distinguishing caller image, providing the distinguishing caller image element list to the user, and generating the distinguishing caller image by assembling formats selected by the user referring to the distinguishing caller image element list; and

18. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a3) comprises: (a31) generating a ring tone category list at the user's request to set a ring tone, providing the ring tone category list to the user, and providing the ring tone according to the user's selection; and (a32) when the user requests to store the ring tone, registering and managing a data of the ring tone and mobile communication terminal information of the user.

19. The method of any one of claims 17 and 18, wherein the distinguishing caller assembly code comprises a distinguishing caller image assembly code and ring tone data.