WO2005006724A1

WO2005006724A1 - Method and apparatus for selecting a sound in a subscriber-based ring-back sound providing system

Info

Publication number: WO2005006724A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/003044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Wilson
Original assignee: Intellprop Limited
Priority date: 2003-07-10
Filing date: 2004-07-12
Publication date: 2005-01-20

Abstract

A formatted text message from a subscriber (B 10) to a telephone service is accepted and processed. Predefined characteristics of the message are recognised as a command for audio selection. A predefined item of audio from a database (17) is assigned by a ringing tone platform (18) in response to the recognition, the predefined item of audio being played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller (A12) dialling the number of the subscriber (BlO). Alternatively a voice services equipment (23) may receive and interact with a voice call, so as to assign the item of audio in lieu of ringing tone.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A SOUND IN A SUBSCRIBER-BASED RING-BACK SOUND PROVIDING SYSTEM

This invention concerns the field of telecommunications and in particular telecommunications services apparatus and methods, preferably involving the provision of special or personalised tones or announcements. 5 It is common in mobile telephone networks for users to be able to change the ring tone produced by their terminal when another user calls them. It is also common for mobile handset terminals to support definition of multiple different ring tones, the ring tone used depending upon the calling line identity (CLI) of the caller. Modem handsets also 10 support downloadable ring tones, and the sale of popular ring tones has become a lucrative business area for operators and service providers.

In contrast to the 'ring' tones just described, which are heard by the called party, there is also a 'ringing' tone (sometimes also known as a subscriber-free tone, or ringing 15 back tone) heard by the caller during the period whilst the called party is being alerted. This is an example of a call progress tone, which informs the caller about the status of the proceeding call.

It is known that in certain networks a service is already provided whereby subscribers 20 are able to change the ringing tone that is heard by someone who calls them during the alerting or ringing phase of the call. This special tone, music or other audio, usually takes the place of the standard ringing tone provided by the network. In some cases it is also possible for the subscriber to specify the ringing tone that will be heard on the basis of the CLI of the caller, the time of day, or other criteria. Furthermore it is 25 possible in some cases for subscribers to provide their own audio to be used as a ringing tone for a caller, rather than simply selecting a ringing tone from a list provided by the network operator or service provider.

The present invention is concerned only with audio heard by the calling party during 30 the ringing phase of the call. Typical implementations of the customised ringing tone service provide a web interface for subscribers to modify their profile, i.e. the ringing tones that all callers or certain callers will hear. Although the web has certain advantages in this application, the web does not have the flexibility and immediacy of being operable from a mobile phone that is always carried, and at any time or place.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone service, the apparatus comprising means operable to accept and process a formatted text message from a subscriber to the service, means for recognising predefined characteristics of the message as a command for audio selection, and means responsive to the recognising means to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

The apparatus may preferably be operable to accept one or more further criteria specified within the text message that apply to each such assignment, such as a required CLI match, day of year or time of day.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone service, the apparatus comprising means operable to receive and interact with a voice call from a subscriber to the service, thereby to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

The apparatus may preferably be operable to accept one or more further criteria specified within the voice interaction that apply to each such assignment, such as a required CLI match, day of year or time of day.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services method for a mobile telephone service, the method comprising accepting and processing a formatted text message from a subscriber to the service, recognising predefined characteristics of the message as a command for audio selection, and assigning a predefined item of audio in response to the recognition, the predefined item of audio being played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a telecommunications services method for a mobile telephone service, the method comprising receiving and interacting with a voice call from a subscriber to the service, thereby to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

The predefined telephone numbers to be used for the text message and voice call respectively may be the same number.

Further aspects of the invention provide a computer program for carrying out the above method(s), and a storage medium on which such computer program is stored.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of telecommunications services apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a block diagram of telecommunications services apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, an A party (mobile terminal) 12 is connected into a mobile telephone network via a mobile switching centre (MSC) 14. When the A party 12 calls a B party (mobile terminal) 10, the call passes through the MSC 14 and is directed by the network to a Visited MSC (NSMC) 16 where the B party 10 is located. If the B party 10 is a subscriber to the service then when the network begins alerting the B party, the visited MSC 16 makes a call to a ringing tone platform 18. According to the CLI of the calling party A 12 and/or any other criteria, a controller 19 may specify that a particular audio file from a database 17 of audio files should be played as ringing tone to the calling A party 12. When the B party 10 answers, the call is connected through in the normal way and the ringing tone platform 18 is released. A web interface 22, a voice services equipment (VSE) 23 and/or an SMS interface, for example via an SMS router 24 and an SMS Wizard text processing engine 13, may be used to modify the profile of the B party 10.

The VSE 23 may be, for example, "Hi-Call" (RTM) equipment manufactured by Telsis Limited, some aspects of which are described in WO 92/22165.

The SMS router 24 may be, for example, a Telsis SMS Router (RTM), also manufactured by Telsis Limited. This equipment is capable of connection to telephone networks using known and standardised signalling protocols such as SS7 and TCP/IP.

The SMS Wizard text processing engine 13 may be, for example, as described in EP-A-1 185 119. According to that disclosure, a communications processor receives an SMS data request from a mobile station and returns requested data to the station via the mobile network. A data store holds information in a hierarchical structure. An information processor can retrieve information from the data store. A query store is associated with the CLI of the mobile station, and holds an indication concerning the relative position in the hierarchical structure of the information retrieved in response to a previous query from the mobile station.

The ringing tone platform 18, which in other respects works in the same way as known systems already in operation in various networks, is able to modify the profile of the B party 10. The profile specifies the audio files to be played to any or all callers according to that specified in either a text message or during a voice call. Advantageously, the text message or voice call may be made to the same telephone number or short code for ease of use and advertising.

The technique is preferably combined with a personalisation capability in the ringing tone platform 18 as is provided in certain networks today. This allows the user, either via the web, voice call or other interface, to upload personal audio to be used as ringing tone.

In all cases the ringing tone platform 18 may be optionally configured to add the standard ringing tone at a defined level to the user-specified ringing tone. This provides a clearer indication to the caller that the status of the call is 'ringing the subscriber', even though the user-specified audio may be unfamiliar in this context. The summation of the audio may be done in advance, or in real time at the point of use on the ringing tone platform 18. An advantage of adding the standard ringing tone in real time is that audio is stored on the platform 18 without having the standard tone pre-combined with it, allowing the same audio store to be used as a basis for an interactive voice service that allows people to preview the audio samples when selecting.

A key benefit of the voice access method to the platform 18 is that the caller may interactively listen to examples of available audio while making his selection, and can have currently selected audio confirmed and played to him, in addition to having the convenience of scripted guidance prompts.

The immediacy of either voice or text access to the facility to change one's profile, with the convenience of a single number, provides simplicity and ease of use. This encourages regular profile changes, allows people to experiment with the service by demonstrating it to friends, and simplifies the revenue collection model compared to a web based approach. In a typical system the subscriber to this service may pay a periodic fee for the use of the service plus an additional charge every time he selects or modifies his profile, that is the specification of which audio is played to all callers or to specified callers.

A further embodiment of a service that implements the technique as described is now described, with reference to Figure 2. Referring to Figure 2, the service is implemented on apparatus comprising an SMS router 24, an SMS Wizard text processing engine running on a standard server 13 and a VSE 23 which provides the service control functions. Each of these platforms is programmable, and has been programmed using the scripts given below to perform the described invention. In Figure 2, the VSE 23 performs the functions of the database 17, the ringing tone platform 18, the controller 19 and also the VSE 23, shown in Figure 1.

Certain network configurations have been implemented to ensure that SMS text messages addressed to the apparatus, and voice calls addressed to the apparatus are routed to the relevant platform component for configuration by the B party 10. In a demonstration this was achieved for text by using a Virtual Mobile (VM) technique whereby text messages sent to the configuration number, from any network, were routed to the SMS router 24, allowing the SMS router 24 to pass messages matching the service address to the SMS Wizard 13. The Wizard engine parses and processes text by means of exception definitions. Each exception definition is formulated in a flexible syntax which allows powerful matching possibilities to incoming text, and specifies the corresponding output operations. For this demonstration the output was passed to the VSE 23 over TCP/IP, and specified the assignment of CLI, B number and file ID to be played to the caller instead of ringing.

Calls from the A party 12 to the B party 10 use an alias number for B for simplicity, and this alias number is taken from a range that is already routed to the VSE 23. According to the number dialled, the VSE 23 outdials to the correct B number, while providing the appropriate customised ringing to the A party 12.

For voice configuration calls from the B party 10, the VSE 23 runs an interactive script in its native language called PDL ™(Program Definition Language). Several PDL scripts are used, for interacting with the caller, for managing the links to the SMS Wizard 13 etc. The caller script is given below. There is also an audio script that defines the voice files that are used in the interactions with the caller. PDL caller script for VSE

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \

\ FileName: CRCaller.pds \ Module: Customised Ringing Caller Service

\ Project: Customised Ringing

\ Authors: Telsis

\ Copyright : 2003

\ Date: 04/07/2003 \ Version: VI.0

\

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

\ Initialisation

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \ A = @A is start of caller's CLI to keep.

\ Also used as temp var.

\ B = Number of digits of caller's CLI to copy.

\ C = ®C receives the section of caller's CLI to keep.

\ \ A$ = Caller's CLI in international form. (Start=®261, Length=®260)

\ C$ = User's CLI. (Start=!2, Length=!l )

\

\ ABASE = 12000 \Domain 1 t 2 Audio Q X<3,ErrBadDDI USER X

\

\ Copy caller's CLI to @260, converting to international form if necessary.

\ \ e.g. 1489123456 => 00441489123456

\ 7123456789 => 00447123456789

\ 01489123456 => 00441489123456

\ 34620950153 => 0034620950153

\ 0039123456789 => 0039123456789 \ 447123456789 => 00447123456789 (Unusual but we have seen this)

\

\ ®260 will contain the length. 0261 and later will contain the number.

\ A=61 B=@60 \ Default to copying caller's entire CLI Q ®60=0,InNoCLI Q @61=0,InStart0 J InAddPrefix \

InStartO: Q ®62=0, InNonUK A=62 \ Don't copy leading 0 from caller ' s CLI B=®60-1 J InAdd0044

\

InAddPref ix: Q ®61=l,InAdd0044 Q @61=2,InAdd0044 Q ®61=7,InAdd0044 @261=0 @262=0 C=263 J InCopy

\ InAdd0044 : ®261=0 ©262=0 0263=4 @264=4 C=265 J InCopy \

InNonUK: C=261 J InCopy

\ InCop : DO ARRAY_COPY ®A,B,®C C=C+B ®C=255 @260=C-261 \ Distance from first digit to terminator . J inDecideSvc \

InNoCLI : @260=0 ®261=255 J InDecideSvc

\ Decide which service to run \

InDecideSvc: DEFINE A$ = ®261,®260 DEFINE C$ = 12, !1 DO STRINGCOMPARE A,A$,C$ Q A=l,ConfigSvc \ Caller is the User for this

DDI \ J OutdialSvc \ For any other caller, jump to outdial . \

\ Configuration Service

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

\ \ A = Most recent DTMF keypress .

\ B = Number of DTMF timeouts (During phone number entry) .

\ C = Number of times user has failed to press hash.

\ D = Counter

\ E = Selected ringtone

\ F = File number of existing ringtone for the phone number. (If found)

\ G = Temp

\ H = Temp

\ I = Index of the entered phone number in the USER X user array list (0-9) -1 if not found yet .

\ J = Temp

\ K = Temp

\ V = Number of digits entered so far during phone number entry.

\ Number of digits in the phone number.

\

\ @1-@18 Phone number.

\

\ A$ = Caller's CLI in international form. (Start=®261, Length=®260)

\ B$ = Phone number. (Start=®l, Length=V)

\ D$ = Temporary reference to a string in the USER X user array.

\

ConfigSvc : ABASE = 12000 \Domain 1 & 2 Audio BBASE = 12300 \Phrase A audio CBASE = 12400 \Phrase B audio DBASE = 12500 \Phrase C audio EBASE = 12600 \Phrase D audio FBASE = 12700 \Phrase E audio

DO ARRAY SET ®1,19,255 \ One more than max digits allowed (18) V=0 B=0 C=0

\ KEY ON Q %T > 720, GoodAfternoon P.ABASE 102 \Good Morning J Greeted

GoodAfternoon : Q %T > 1080, GoodEvening P.ABASE 103 \Good Afternoon J Greeted

GoodEvenin : P. BASE 104 \Good Evening J Greeted

Greeted: P.ABASE 106 \Thanks for calling the Telsis... Q ®60=0, NoCLI

AskForNum: P.ABASE 107 \Please Enter the phone number... WaitNextKey: A = KEY, 5, Timeout, GotKey

Timeout : B=B+1 Q V>0, CheckHashCount \ If any digits this is a no- hash timeout. \ ON B GOTO FirstTO(l), SecondTO(2), Disconnect (3) J FirstTO

FirstTO: B=l P.ABASE 122 \Sorry I didn't hear you enter the number J WaitNextKey

SecondTO: P.ABASE 123 \Sorry I still didn't hear you enter the number ... J WaitNextKey

CheckHashCount : C=C+1 ON C GOTO FirstNH(l), SecondNH(2), ThirdNH(3), Disconnect (4) J FirstNH \

FirstNH: C=l P.ABASE 111 \Sorry, I didn't hear you press hash. . . J WaitNextKey \

SecondNH: P.ABASE 112 \Sorry, I still didn't hear you press hash.. J WaitNextKey

\

ThirdNH: P.ABASE 113 \Sorry, I still didn't hear you press hash, there must be a problem. J WaitNextKey

\

GotKey: CANCEL \ User is typing so stop any audio ON A GOTO GotHash(12), GotStar(ll) V=V+1 Q V>18, WaitNextKey \ Ignore digits after the 18th ®V=A J WaitNextKey

GotHash: KEY OFF P.ABASE 109 \ hank you Q V<6, InvalidEntry Q V>18, InvalidEntry Q ®lo0, NotZeroes Q ®2<>0, NotZeroes DEFINE B$ = 91 , V J MusicSelection \

GotStar: J Help

\

InvalidEntry: JSR ResetDTMF P.ABASE 132 \Sorry, not a valid number P.ABASE 133 \Please enter it again J WaitNextKey

NotZeroes : JSR ResetDTMF P.ABASE 131 \Sorry, needs to start with 2

P. BASE 133 \Please enter it again J WaitNextKey

\ NoCLI : P. BASE 141 \Sorry, need a CLI J Disconnect

ResetDTMF: KEY OFF FLUSH KEYS V=0 DO ARRAY_SET ®1,19,255 \ One more than max digits allowed (18) KEY ON JRET

\ Help: JSR ResetDTMF B=0 C=0 P.ABASE 151 \Help J AskForNum

\ \ Disconnect : H 24 WAIT D

\ \ MusicSelection: KEY ON

\ Find the phone number.

\

\ B$ contains the phone number entered by the user.

\ V contains the number of digits in the phone number.

\ Search for B$ in the USER X array.

\ When found store the index in I and the song number in F.

\ If phone number is not found, I=-l.

\ 1 = 0-1 \ Phone number not found yet . Index=-1 D=0 \ Initialise counter PNFind : G=21*D G=G+21 \ Ptr to song number for this entry Q IG=0,PNFNeXt \ Entry not in use H=G+1 \ Ptr to length of phone number for this entry J=G+2 \ Ptr to start of phone number data DEFINE D$ = !J, !H DO STRINGCOMPARE K,B$,D$ Q K=l,PNFound

PNFNext : D=D+1 Q D<10, PNFind

\

\ Phone number not found. Look for a free entry to store it in.

\ D=0 FreeEntryFind: G=21*D G=G+21 Q !G=0 , FreeEntryFound D=D+1 Q D<10 , FreeEntryFind \

\ No free entries found. \ P. ABASE 134 \Sorry you are limited to 10 phone numbers. J Disconnect

\

\ Free entry found. Store the phone number but leave the song number clear. \

FreeEntryFound: I=D \ Index of the free entry. H=G+1 J=G+2 !H=V \ Store length of phone number DEFINE D$ = !J, !H D$ = B$ \ Store phone number J= + I H !J=255 \ Terminate P.ABASE 212 \ This is a new phone number. Select 1-9 or 0 to cancel or * to hear list. J MSWai ForKey PNFound : I=D \ Index of the matched entry (0-

10) F=!G P . BBASE F

MSAskForChoice : P.ABASE 202 \Select 1-9 or 0 to cancel or * to hear list

\

MSWaitForKey: A = KEY, 6,

MSTimeout : P.ABASE 208 \Sorry, Didn't hear you make you selection. , J MSWaitForKey

MSGotKey: CANCEL \ User is typing so stop any audio ON A GOTO CancelCust(O) , HearList (11) , MSNotValid(12) E = A P.ABASE 204 \Thank you P . CBASE E \You selected .... by

CSAskAgain: P.ABASE 221 \Press l=confirm. 2=short, 3=long, 0=reselect A = KEY, 6, CSTimeout, CSGotKey

CSTimeout : J CSAskAgain

\

CancelCust : P.ABASE 206 \Thank you, customised ringtones turned off

\

\ Remove customised ringtones for the phone number.

\ Q I<0,CancelCustDone \ Should not occur. G=21*I G=G+21 DO ARRAY_SET !G,21,0 \ Entry now not in use.

\

CancelCustDone : J Disconnect

\

CSGotKey: CANCEL \ User is typing so stop any audio ON A GOTO CSGoBack(O) , CSConfirmed(l) , HearSample(2) , HearWhole(3) P.ABASE 224 \Sorry invalid input . J CSAskAgain

\ \ CSGoBack: P. ABASE 225 \0K J MSAskForChoice

CSConfirmed: P.ABASE 223 \Thank you, you customised ringtone is now activated... \

\ Set customised ringtone for this phone number to song number E.

\ Q I<0, SetCustDone \ Should not occur. G=21*I G=G+21 IG=E J SetCustDone

\ SetCustDone: J Disconnect \

MSNo Valid: P.ABASE 207 \Sorry That is not a valid selection J MSWaitForKey \

HearList : P.ABASE 209 \τhe following ringtones are available D=0 NextListltem: D=D+1 P.DBASE D \<List of ringtones> A = KEY Q A>=0 , SGotKey Q D<9, NextListltem P. BASE 211 \Select 1-9 or 0 to cancel or * to hear list . J MSWaitForKey

HearSample : P.ABASE 231 \Here is short music P.EBASE E \<Sample> J ConfirmSel2

\

HearWhole : P.ABASE 233 \Here is long music P.FBASE E \<Selection> J ConfirmSel2

\

ConfirmSel2 : P. BASE 235 \Press l=confirm,

0=reselect A = KEY, 6 , C.

CS2Timeout : J ConfirmSel2

\

CS2GotKey: CANCEL \ User is typing so stop any audio ON A GOTO MSAskForChoice (0) , CSConfirmed(l) P.ABASE 237 \Sorry, not a valid input J CσnfirmSel2

\ \ \ \ Caller Outdial Service

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

\ \ A = Outdial port number

\ B = Set Number. There are 9 static 1-1 mappings between caller ports and feed ports.

(B=0 to B=8)

\ C = Base of user array block

\ for this set. \ ID = Outdial port state

\ ! E = Used to instruct outdial service to dial .

\ F = File number of the ringtone for the phone number. (0 if CLI not found)

\ G = Temp (first part of code below)

\ !G = Start of string to dial in USER array 2 (second part of code below) \ H = Temp

\ 11 = Start of CLI to use when outdialling in USER array 2

\ J = Temp

\ K = Temp

\ L = Counter \

\ ®290-@308 Copy of user CLI (Number to dial) . Length followed by number + terminator.

\

\ A$ = Caller's CLI in international form. (Start=@261, Length=®260) \ C$ = User's CLI. (Start=l2, Lengths II )

\ D$ = Temporary reference to a string in the USER X user array.

\ E$ = Copy of User's CLI (Number to dial) in call array. (Start=®291 or ®294,

Length=®290)

\ F$ = Copy of User's CLI (Number to dial) in USER 2 array. (Start=G, Length=@290) \

\ Search for caller's CLI in the phone number entries in the USER X user array.

\

OutdialSvc: GBASE = 12800 \ Long music with

Italian ringtones F=0 \ Default song number L=0 \ Initialise counter

CallerFind: G=21*L G=G+21 \ Ptr to song number for this entry Q !G=0,CallerFindNext \ Entry not in use H=G+1 \ Ptr to length of phone number for this entry j=G+2 \ Ptr to start of phone number data DEFINE D$ = !J, !H DO STRINGCOMPARE K,A$,D$ Q K=0,CallerFindNext \ CLI doesn't match F=!G \ CLI matches. Retrieve song number. J CopyUserCLI CallerFindNext : L=L+1 Q L<10,CallerFind \

\ Caller's CLI not found. Use default song already set up above. \ \

\ Copy user CLI (number to dial) to ®290 \

CopyUserCLI: ®290=!1 \ Length of User' s CLI. DEFINE E$ = ®291,®290 E$ = C$ K = 291 + Θ290 ®K = 255 \ Terminate

\

\ Extra code to convert 0044xx to Oxx by redefining start position of E$.

\ This is needed because the Telsis interconnect doesn't allow outialling

\ to numbers starting with 0044.

\ Q ®291<>0,SetUserNum Q ®292<>0,SetUserNum Q ®293<>4,SetUserNum Q ®294<>4,SetUserNum ®294=0 ®290 = ®290 - 3 DEFINE E$ = @294,®290

\

\ Prepare information to be used by the outdial feed port service .

\

SetUserNum: USER 2 \ User array used by outdial feed port service Q Yol, YRange B = 0 J CalcC

YRange : Q Y<14,Errl Q Y>21,Errl B = Y-13 J CalcC

\ CalcC: C B*45 Size of set=45 D C E C+l G C+2 I C+21 A B+22 Q IDoO.Errl Not ready Q !Eo0,Errl In use ZCLR, ClrDn \

\ Copy number to dial E$ to the USER 2 array.

\ K = ©290 DEFINE F$ = !G,K F$ = E$ K = G + ®290 IK = 255

\ Prepare CLI to pass through when outdialling.

Q ®60=0,OutNoCLI K = ®60 J = 61 DO ARRAY_COPY ®J,K, II K = K + I IK = 255 J PassISDNInfo

\

OutNoCLI : 11=255

\

\ Pass through ISDN Additional Information

\

PassISDNInfo: J = C+40 K = 120 DO ARRAY_COPY ®K, 5, !J J = J + 1 !J = 129 \ Called party number info = ISDN, Unknown \

\ Instruct Feed port to dial then wait until it starts. \

StartFeedPort : !E=1

WtDial: Q !D<l,WtDial \

\ Wait until it detects ringing. \

WtRing: Q !D=0,Err2 Q !D<2, WtRing \

\ Play music with Italian ringtone, then wait until answered.

P.GBASE F

WtAns: Q !D=0,Err2 Q !D<3,WtAns

\

\ Cancel audio and connec .

CANCEL ROUTE TA. Y>TA.A, FULL

J Fin

\

\ Error Handlers

\

ErrBadDDI : D

ErrBadDDILoop : J ErrBai

\

Errl: D

Finl: J Finl

\

Err2 : !E=0 D

Fin2: J Fin2

\

\ Cleardown Handler

\

ClrDn: !E=0 D

FinCD : J FinCD

Audio Script for VSE

A script for an interactive voice service is divided into a series of domains followed optionally by a series of phrase arrays.

A script domain refers to a logical part of a call, and has a defined objective.

Phrase arrays are structures of related script elements. These script elements are normally addressed by computation. Since phrase arrays may be referenced from several domains, they appear after the script domains at the end of the script.

A caller will normally progress during a call from one domain to another, spending as much time in each domain as necessary to fulfill the domain's objective. Arranging a script into domains aids readability since all related content is collected into one place.

The structure of a domain is shown in the table below:

DOMAINS

Domains are numbered sequentially starting at 1. Each domain has a header consisting of a title followed by a declaration of the its objective. Any variables used in the domain are then listed and their significance explained.

SCRIPT ELEMENTS

The table following this header contains a series of script elements with sequentially numbered idents. Each script element may contain the literal text for a piece of audio to be played, a reference to an element of a phrase array, or the description of some other process. Literal text always appears in bold type, whereas references to phrase array elements are enclosed in quotation marks; processes are explained in normal type between # symbols.

A script element will always contain one or more events which will dictate the choice of one of a number of subsequent actions.

Script elements are ordered so as to reflect the normal forward progress of a caller through the domain. Script elements for alternative paths should then follow, separated by a single line.

EVENTS

Events refer mainly to DTMF input, tests on variables, or responses from external systems. Formats for expressing these events are contained in the table below:

ACTIONS

An action will normally be the ident of the script element to be played next, and may be preceded by some arithmetic on the defined variables. Such arithmetic is enclosed between () parentheses.

Other actions include 'disconnect'.

Domain 1:

Title Front End

Objective To greet the caller and accept a phone number for customised ringing.

Variables NoHashCount Initialise to zero TimeOutCount Initialise to zero

101 ### Check time ### Morning 102 Afternoon 103 Evening 104

102 Complete 106 Good Morning

103 Good Afternoon Complete 106

104 Good Evening Complete 106

106 Thanks for calling the Telsis Customised CLI not 141 Ringing Demonstration Service available 107 ### Collect CLI ### Complete

107 Please enter the phone number selected MF digits 109 for Customised Ringing, and then press followed by # hash. MF digits 110 Please remember to enter the number in only international format, starting zero zero 121 Complete ### Collect entered number with 5 second 151 inter-digit timeout ### MF *

Thank you Number does 131 not start

### Check entered number ### with 00 132 Less than 6 digits 132

Greater than 18 digits 134

11^th number nominated 200

Number in correct format

### IncrementNoHashCount ### NoHashCount 111 =1 112 NoHashCount 113 =2 NoHashCount =3

Sorry, I didn't hear you press hash. If MF digits 109 you've finished entering the phone followed by # number please press the hash key. If not, please continue MF digits 110 only 121 Complete 151 MF *

112 Sorry, I still didn't hear your entry. MF digits 109 Please press hash if the phone number is followed by # complete, otherwise please continue. MF digits 110 only 121 Complete 151 MF

113 Sorry, I still didn't hear you press the MF digits 109 hash key. There must be a problem with followed by # the phone or the connection. Please disconnect and try calling in again. Complete Disconnect

MF 151

121 ### Increment Time Out Count ### TimeOutCount 122 =1 123 TimeOutCount = 2

122 Sorry, I didn't hear you enter the phone MF digits 109 number for Customised Ringing. followed by #

Please enter the phone number and then MF digits 111 press hash. only 121 Complete 151 MF *

123 Sorry, I still didn' t hear you enter the MF digits 109 phone number . There must be a problem followed by # with the phone or the connection. Please disconnect and try calling in Complete disconnect again. MF * 151

131 I'm sorry. For this demonstration the Complete 133 phone number must be entered in international format, starting with zero zero.

132 I'm sorry, but that is not a valid Complete 133 telephone number.

133 Please enter the number again and then Complete 108 press hash.

134 I'm sorry. For this demonstration you Complete disconnect are limited to a maximum of 10 phone numbers that can receive Customised Ringing when they call you. You have already nominated 10 phone numbers and so I cannot set up Customised Ringing for this number. Thanks for Calling. Goodbye.

i4i I'm sorry, but we have not received your Complete Disconnect Calling Line Identity, or CLI, on this call. We need CLI for security purposes. Please check that your handset is enabled for CLI sending and then call in again.

Thank you. Goodbye.

151 The Telsis Customised Ringing Complete 107 Demonstration Service enables you to choose pieces of music that callers to your mobile will hear instead of the normal ringtone. Different callers can hear different music.

In total, you can nominate up to 10 phone numbers and when each of those numbers calls you, they will hear the Customised Ringing that you have selected for them.

This demonstration currently has nine Customised Ringing options for you to choose from.

You can change the Customised Ringing selection, or turn Customised Ringing off at any time. If it is turned off, or if you receive a call without any Calling Line Identity, then the caller will hear a default ringtone, which is currently Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Domain 2:

Title Music Selection

Objective Announce the current selection for the nominated phone number and accept a new selection

Variables

200 ### Phone number already nominated ### Yes 201 No 212

201 ### Phrase A ### Complete 202

202 To change this, please make your selection, MF 1-9 204 from one to nine, or press zero to cancel MF 0 206 Customised Ringing for this phone number. MF * 209 MF # 207 Press star to hear the list of Customised Complete 208 Ringing options.

### Collect MF digit, with 6 second timeout ###

204 Thank you Complete 205

205 ### Phrase B ### Complete 221

206 Complete disconnect Thank you for calling. Goodbye.

207 MF 1-9 204 MF 0 206 MF * 209 MF # 207 Complete 208

208 MF 1-9 204 MF 0 206 MF * 209 MF # 207 Complete 208

209 Complete 210 210 MF 1-9 205 MF 0 206 MF * 209 MF # 207 Complete 211

211 Complete 203

212 MF 1-9 204 MF 0 206 MF * 209 MF # 207 Complete 208

221 To confirm your selection please press one, MF 1 223 to listen to a sample of your selection MF 2 231 press two, to hear the whole of it press MF 3 241 three, or press zero to make a new MF 0 225 selection. Other MF 224 key 221 ### Collect MF digit with 6 second timeout Complete ###

223 Thank you. Your new Customised Ringing Complete disconnect selection is now activated for this phone number.

I hope your callers enjoy itI Bye for now.

224 Sorry, that's not a valid input. Complete 221

225 OK Complete 202 231 Thank you. Here is a sample of your Complete 232 selection.

232 ### Phrase D ### Complete 235

233 Thank you. Here is your selection. Complete 234

234 ### Phrase E ### Complete 235

235 To confirm your selection, please press MF 1 223 one, or press zero to choose another MF 0 202 Customised Ringing option. Other MF 237 key 235 ### Collect MF digit with 6 second timeout Complete ###

237 Sorry. That's not a valid input. Complete 235

PHRASEARRAYS

Phrase A (Example song titles have been substituted)

Objective To announce the currently selected Customised Ringing

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

I Can't Get you out of my head by Kylie Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

The Superman Theme is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

Hello (is it me you're looking for) by Lionel Ritchie Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

The Monty Python theme is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

The Cantina Band from Stars Wars Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

We are the Champions by Queen Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

Crocodile Rock by Elton John Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

Lose Yourself by Eminem Is the current Customised Ringing selection for this phone number

Phrase B (Example song titles have been substituted)

Objective To announce a new Customised Ringing selection

1 You've selected Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

2 You've selected Can't Get you out of my head by Kylie

3 You've selected the Superman theme You've selected Hello (is it me you're looking for by Lionel Ritchie

You've selected the Monty Python theme

You've selected The Cantina Band from Star Wars

You've selected We are The Champions by Queen

You've selected Crocodile Rock by Elton John

You've selected Lose Yourself by Eminem

Phrase C (Example song titles have been substituted)

Objective To announce the currently available Customised Ringing options

Number 1 - Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Number 2 - Can' t Get you out of my head by Kylie

Number 3 - the Superman theme

Number 4 - Hello (is it me you're looking for by Lionel Ritchie

Number 5 - the Monty Python theme

Number 6 - The Cantina Band from Star Wars

Number 7 - We are The Champions by Queen

Number 8 - Crocodile Rock by Elton John

Number 9 - Lose Yourself by Eminem Phrase D

Objective To play 10 second sample of Customised Ringing

1 < sample 1 >

2 < sample 2 >

3 < sample 3 >

4 < sample 4 >

5 < sample 5 >

6 < sample 6 >

7 < sample 7 >

8 < sample 8 >

9 < sample 9 >

Phrase E

Objective To play full Customised Ringing

1 < full Customised Ringing 1 >

2 < full Customised Ringing 2 >

3 < full Customised Ringing 3 >

4 < full Customised Ringing 4 >

5 < full Customised Ringing 5 >

6 < full Customised Ringing 6 >

7 < full Customised Ringing 7 >

8 < full Customised Ringing 8 >

9 < full Customised Ringing 9 > Exceptions list for SMS Wizard

Exception Table (telephone numbers have been partially erased, and example song titles have been substituted)

Class (Example song titles have been substituted)

In so far as the embodiment(s) of the invention described above may be implemented, at least in part, using software controlled processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a storage medium by which such a computer program is stored are envisaged as aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. Telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone service, the apparatus comprising means operable to accept and process a formatted text message from a subscriber to the service, means for recognising predefined characteristics of the message as a command for audio selection, and means responsive to the recognising means to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including means operable to accept one or more further criteria specified within the received text message, applying to each such assignment performed by the audio assigning means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the criteria accepting means is operable to accept at least one of a required CLI match, a day of year, or a time of day.

4. Telecommunications services apparatus for use with a mobile telephone service, the apparatus comprising means operable to receive and interact with a voice call from a subscriber to the service, thereby to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, including means operable to accept one or more further criteria specified within the voice interaction, applying to each such assignment of the predefined item of audio.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more further criteria include at least one of a required CLI match, a day of year, or a time of day.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a predefined number to which the text message is to be sent and the voice call is to be made is the same number.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including means configurable to play a standard ringing tone mixed with the predefined item of audio.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including a database storing a plurality of the items of audio.

10. A telecommunications services method for a mobile telephone service, the method comprising accepting and processing a formatted text message from a subscriber to the service, recognising predefined characteristics of the message as a command for audio selection, and assigning a predefined item of audio in response to the recognition, the predefined item of audio being played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

11. A telecommunications services method for a mobile telephone service, the method comprising receiving and interacting with a voice call from a subscriber to the service, thereby to assign a predefined item of audio to be played in lieu of ringing tone to a caller dialling the number of the subscriber.

12. A method according to claim 10 and claim 11, wherein a predefined number to which the text message is to be sent and the voice call is to be made is the same number.

13. A computer program for implementing a method according to claim 10, claim 11 or claim 12, or for operating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

4. A storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 13.