Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42314—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers in private branch exchanges
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/16—Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42017—Customized ring-back tones
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M2203/65—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to applications where calls are combined with other types of communication
  • H04M2203/651—Text message transmission triggered by call

Definitions

• the present invention relates, in general, to a method and apparatus for providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service in a private automatic branch exchange environment and, more particularly, to a method of providing an alternative ringback tone in a private automatic branch exchange, transmitting call information about an unanswered call, providing a voice mailbox service and preventing spam calls through the use of a ringback tone system for enterprises, and the ringback tone system thereof.
• a ringback tone refers to a signal tone sent from an exchange to a calling subscriber to inform the calling subscriber that a call signal is being transmitted to a called subscriber in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a mobile communication network.
• PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
• ringback tone replacement services for replacing the typical ringback tone have been developed and used. For example, services, such as COLORing or 2Ring of Korea that allow a user to select an alternative ringback tone for replacing a typical ringback tone universally provided depending on the specification of the International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication (ITU-T) , have been tremendously popularized.
• ITU-T International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication
• a conventional ringback replacement service is provided by an intelligent network device or a service provision apparatus connected to an exchange included in a wired/wireless communication network, such as a mobile communication network or a public switched telephone network. Therefore, there is a limitation in directly setting and changing a ringback tone by a .user. For example, it is difficult for a specific enterprise to provide a ringback tone including contents for publicizing it. Further, it is difficult for a specific employee to use his or her own ringback tone in a company that allocates a plurality of direct telephone numbers to employees.
• a voice mailbox service is a service for coupling separate equipment to a Private Automatic Branch Exchange
• a voice mailbox device or an exchange, and switching over a call to a voice mailbox device when a called party is absent or on the telephone, thus enabling a caller to leave a voice message or callback number.
• a voice mailbox device and a ringback tone generation device perform similar functions in that they are coupled to an exchange through a voice circuit to reproduce or store sound sources.
• they are developed as separate equipment and are independently coupled to an exchange, so that the voice circuit cost is unnecessarily increased in addition to the device cost.
• a caller Identification (ID) service allows a user to identify the phone number of a caller at the same time that an incoming call is received.
• a caller ID service is a convenient service capable of identifying and redialing a calling number without giving displeasure to a caller, in addition -to preventing mischievous, lewd and violating calls.
• a caller ID service is disadvantageous in that it is only provided when a call has been successfully performed, but the phone number of a caller is not displayed when a call has been abnormally performed.
• a service of transmitting the phone number of a caller of an unanswered incoming call to a called party as a short message in a situation in which a subscriber cannot answer the call has been provided in a mobile communication network.
• a private automatic branch exchange there is a request for a call information notification service for such an unanswered incoming call, but the call information notification service has not been provided yet.
• FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a process of providing a service in a ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of a service provision apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a view showing the construction of a ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a signal flowchart showing a service process in a ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 5 is a view showing the construction of a ringback tone system for enterprises according to another embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 6 is a signal flowchart showing a service process in a ringback tone system for enterprises according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen for call information received by a mobile terminal associated with a called terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• An object of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a method and apparatus for providing a voice mailbox service while providing an alternative ringback tone in a private automatic branch exchange environment, such as an enterprise.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for identifying a calling number of an incoming call and denying the reception of the call when the calling number is spam, in a private automatic branch exchange environment.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for transmitting call information about an unanswered incoming call to a called subscriber using a short message in a private automatic branch exchange environment.
• a method of providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service by a service provision apparatus in a private branch exchange environment comprising the steps of receiving a first call connection request signal from the originating exchange, transmitting a second call connection request signal to the private branch exchange in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal on the basis of the second call connection request signal, receiving a first call connection response signal in response to the second call connection request signal, transmitting a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange in response to the first call connection response signal, transmitting an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the second call connection response signal, receiving a call release request signal from the private branch exchange wherein
• the ringback tone replacement service and call information transmission service provision method may further comprise the steps of determining whether an originating call corresponding to the first call connection request signal is a spam call, and transmitting a call release request signal to the originating exchange to release the originating call if the originating call is a spam call.
• the ringback tone replacement service and call information transmission service provision method may further comprise the step of providing a voice mailbox service to the calling terminal.
• the ringback tone replacement service and call information transmission service provision method may further comprise the step of extracting an alternative ringback tone corresponding to the called terminal.
• the alternative ringback tone may be determined by an identifier of the calling terminal, a call origination time, and logic preset by a user of the called terminal.
• the service provision apparatus may be ON/OFF controlled using a switch circuit.
• the call information may include an identifier of the calling terminal, an identifier of the called terminal, and a call origination time.
• the call information may be transmitted to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal using a short message service.
• a method of providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service by a service provision apparatus in a private branch exchange environment comprising the steps of receiving a first call connection request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the first call connection request signal corresponds to a second call connection request signal received by the private branch exchange from the originating exchange, transmitting a first call connection response signal in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal in response to the first call connection response signal and transmits a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange, transmitting an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the first and second call connection response signals, receiving a call release request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the call release request signal is generated when the called
• a service provision apparatus for providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service, the service provision apparatus being coupled to an originating exchange for managing at least one calling terminal, a private branch exchange for managing at least one called terminal, and a mobile terminal associated with the called terminal, comprising means for receiving a first call connection request signal from the originating exchange, means for transmitting a second call connection request signal to the private branch exchange in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal on the basis of the second call connection request signal, means for receiving a first call connection response signal in response to the second call connection request signal, means for transmitting a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange in response to the first call connection response signal, means for transmitting an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the second call connection response signal, means for receiving a call release request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the call release request signal is generated when
• a service provision apparatus for providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service, the service provision apparatus being coupled to an originating exchange for managing at least one calling terminal, a private branch exchange for managing at least one called terminal, and a mobile terminal associated with the called terminal, comprising means for receiving a first call connection request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the first call connection request signal corresponds to a second call connection request signal received by the private branch exchange from the originating exchange, means for transmitting a first call connection response signal in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal in response to the first call connection response signal and transmits a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange, means for transmitting an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the first and second call connection response signals, means for receiving a call release request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the call release request signal is generated when the called terminal does not answer the
• a service provision apparatus for providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service
• the service provision apparatus being coupled to an originating exchange for managing at least one calling terminal, a private branch exchange for managing at least one called terminal, and a mobile terminal associated with the called terminal, comprising memory for storing therein a program, and a processor connected to the memory to execute the program, wherein the processor is operated by the program so that it receives a first call connection request signal from the originating exchange, transmits a second call connection request signal to the private branch exchange in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal on the basis of the second call connection request signal, receives a first call connection response signal in response to the second call connection request signal, transmits a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange in response to the first call connection response signal, transmits an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the second call connection response
• a service provision apparatus for providing a ringback tone replacement service and a call information transmission service
• the service provision apparatus being coupled to an originating exchange for managing at least one calling terminal, a private branch exchange for managing at least one called terminal, and a mobile terminal associated with the called terminal, comprising memory for storing therein a program, and a processor connected to the memory to execute the program, wherein the processor is operated by the program so that it receives a first call connection request signal from the private branch exchange wherein the first call connection request signal corresponds to a second call connection request signal received by the private branch exchange from the originating exchange, transmits a first call connection response signal in response to the first call connection request signal wherein the private branch exchange transmits a call signal to the called terminal in response to the first call connection response signal and transmits a second call connection response signal to the originating exchange, transmits an alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the first and second call connection response signals, receive
• a method and apparatus for providing an alternative ringback tone with respect to an incoming call in a private automatic branch exchange environment can be provided.
• a voice mailbox function, a spam call prevention function, and a function of transmitting call information about an unanswered call can be provided through a single device using an apparatus for providing an alternative ringback tone in a private automatic branch exchange environment.
• FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a process of providing a service in a ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• a calling terminal attempts to place a call to a called terminal managed by a private automatic branch exchange at step 101.
• a service provision apparatus coupled to the private automatic branch exchange identifies the number of a calling terminal to determine whether the calling terminal number is a number that has been previously registered as a spam number at step 103. If it is determined that the calling terminal number is the spam number, the service provision apparatus releases the call to terminate the step, while if the calling terminal number is not a spam number, step 105 is executed.
• the service provision apparatus extracts an alternative ringback tone corresponding to the called terminal and transmits the alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal. If the called terminal answers the call during the transmission of the alternative ringback tone at step 107, step 109 is performed, while if the called terminal does not answer the call, step 111 is performed.
• the service provision apparatus stops the transmission of the alternative ringback tone, thus allowing the calling and called terminals to normally communicate with each other at step 109.
• the service provision apparatus transmits call information to a mobile terminal associated with the called terminal using a short message at step 111. Thereafter, the service provision apparatus provides a voice mailbox service to the calling terminal at step 113. After the voice mailbox service has been terminated, the call is released and the step is terminated. In this case, it is apparent that step 113 can be performed prior to step 111.
• FIG. 2 is a view showing the construction of a service provision apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• the service provision apparatus of the present invention includes a control unit 201, a transmission/reception processing unit 203, a switch unit 205, a spam prevention module 207, a ringback tone module 209, a voice mailbox module 211, a call information transmission module 213 and a storage device 215.
• the control unit 201 receives a voice call from the transmission/reception processing unit 203, and controls an entire operation of the service provision apparatus.
• the transmission/reception processing unit 203 includes a voice line for receiving a voice call from an external public switched telephone network or private automatic branch exchange, and providing an alternative ringback tone or a voice mailbox.
• the transmission/reception processing unit 203 provides a user interface to allow a supervisor or the user of the called terminal to set a service environment and sound sources, such as alternative ringback tones, through the Internet.
• the switch unit 205 functions to control the ON/OFF operation of the service provision apparatus. If the service provision apparatus has defects and cannot perform normal operation, there is a need to prohibit the service provision apparatus from operating so as to maintain the stability of the entire system.
• the spam prevention module 207 functions to determine whether an incoming call to the private automatic branch exchange is a spam call, and to release the call if the incoming call is a spam call.
• the spam prevention module 207 extracts a calling number from the incoming call, and releases the incoming call if the extracted calling number is a spam number stored in the storage device 215. If an incoming call from the calling terminal is received by the private automatic branch exchange, the ringback tone module 209 functions to extract an alternative ringback tone corresponding to a called terminal and transmit the alternative ringback tone to the calling terminal until the called terminal answers the call.
• the voice mailbox module 211 functions to provide a voice mailbox service to the calling terminal when the called terminal does not answer the call or it is busy.
• the call information transmission module 213 functions to transmit call information about an unanswered call to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal. That is, when the called terminal does not answer the call, the call information transmission module 213 extracts and stores call information, including a calling number and a call origination time, and transmits the call information to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal in the form of a short message.
• the storage device 215 stores the sound source of the alternative ringback tone corresponding to the called terminal, and also stores call information about an unanswered call to allow the user of the called terminal to identify the call information through the Internet, etc.
• the service providing apparatus having the above construction is placed between the public switched telephone network and the private automatic branch exchange or in the private automatic branch exchange, thus providing a ringback tone replacement service, a spam prevention service, a voice mailbox service, a call information transmission service, etc. in a private automatic branch exchange environment, such as an enterprise.
• FIG. 3 is a view showing the construction of a ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• the ringback tone system for enterprises includes calling terminals 301 and 303, an originating exchange 305, a service provision apparatus 309, a Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) 313, a called terminal 315, and a mobile terminal 319.
• the calling terminals include the wired telephone 301 and the mobile terminal 303 that have all existing functions.
• the originating exchange 305 includes all functions of exchanges in existing wired/wireless communication networks.
• the private automatic branch exchange 313 is connected to a Public Switched telephone Network (PSTN) 307 to manage the called terminal 315 in an enterprise environment, etc.
• PSTN Public Switched telephone Network
• the called terminal 315 is connected to the private automatic branch exchange 313 and includes a wired or a wireless telephone having a unique extension number.
• PSTN Public Switched telephone Network
• the service provision apparatus 309 functions to relay a voice call between the PSTN 307 and the private automatic branch exchange 313. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the service provision apparatus 309 provides a ringback tone replacement service, a spam prevention service, a voice mailbox service and a call information transmission service in cooperation with the private automatic branch exchange 313. In the meantime, the user of the called terminal 315 accesses the service provision apparatus 309 through the Internet 311 to set or change an alternative ringback tone, and to identify call information about an unanswered call that has been placed to the user.
• the user of the called terminal 315 accesses the service provision apparatus 309 through the Internet 311 to register or revise the number of a mobile terminal to receive call information and, in particular, to set a call information notification method, such as immediate notification, periodic notification, or programmed notification.
• a call information notification method such as immediate notification, periodic notification, or programmed notification.
• the mobile terminal 319 is a mobile terminal belonging to the user of the called terminal 315, and functions to receive call information about an unanswered call from the service provision apparatus 309 using a short message.
• FIG. 4 is a signal flowchart showing a service process in the ringback tone system for enterprises according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, FIG. 4 illustrates the signal flowchart of the ringback tone system having the construction of FIG. 3.
• an originating exchange receives a call connection request signal from the calling terminal and transmits the call connection request signal to a service provision apparatus through a PSTN at step 401.
• the call connection request signal includes an identifier of the calling terminal (for example, a phone number) .
• the service provision apparatus determines whether the placed call is a spam call on the basis of the identifier of the calling terminal at step 403. If the placed call is a spam call, the service provision apparatus releases the placed call by transmitting a call release request signal to the originating exchange at step 405. If the placed call is not a spam call, the service provision apparatus transmits a call connection request signal to the private automatic branch exchange at step 407.
• the private automatic branch exchange having received the call connection request signal, transmits a call signal to the called terminal so as to allow the called terminal to ring at step 409, and transmits a call connection response signal to the service provision apparatus in response to the call connection request signal at step 411.
• the service provision apparatus transmits a call connection response signal to the originating exchange in response to the call connection response signal at step 413. Thereafter, the service provision apparatus transmits an alternative ringback tone corresponding to the called terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the call connection response signal at step 415.
• the private automatic branch exchange transmits a call release request signal to the service provision apparatus at step 419.
• the service provision apparatus stores call information, including a calling terminal identifier, a called terminal identifier, and a call origination time, at step 421, and transmits the call information to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal at step 423.
• the call information is preferably transmitted to the mobile terminal using a short message service.
• the service provision apparatus transmits a voice mailbox message to the calling terminal, thus providing a voice mailbox service at step 425.
• the service provision apparatus releases the call by transmitting a call release request signal to the originating exchange at step 427.
• the voice mailbox service at step 425 can be provided prior to the call information transmission service at steps 421 and 423.
• FIG. 5 is a view showing the construction of a ringback tone system for enterprises according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• the ringback tone system for enterprises has the same components as the ringback tone system for enterprises of FIG. 3, and is only different in that a service provision apparatus 309 is provided within or below a private automatic branch exchange 313, not between a public switched telephone network 307 and the private automatic branch exchange 313.
• the functions of the components are identical to those of FIG. 3, so that a detailed description thereof is omitted.
• FIG. 6 is a signal flowchart showing a service process in the ringback tone system for enterprises according to another embodiment of the present invention. That is, FIG. 6 illustrates a signal flowchart in the ringback tone system having the construction of FIG. 5.
• an originating exchange receives a call connection request signal from the calling terminal and transmits the call connection request signal to a private automatic branch exchange through a PSTN at step 601.
• the call connection request signal includes an identifier of the calling terminal (for example, a phone number) .
• the private automatic branch exchange transmits a call connection request signal to the service provision apparatus in response to the received call connection request signal at step 603.
• the service provision apparatus determines whether the placed call is a spam call on the basis of the calling terminal identifier at step 605. If the placed call is a spam call, the service provision apparatus releases the placed call by transmitting a call release request signal to the private automatic branch exchange at step 607.
• the service provision apparatus transmits a call connection response signal to the private automatic branch exchange at step 609.
• the private automatic branch exchange having received the call connection response signal transmits a call signal to the called terminal so as to allow the called terminal to ring at step 611, and transmits a call connection response signal to the originating exchange in response to the call connection response signal at step 613.
• the service provision apparatus transmits an alternative ringback tone corresponding to the called terminal using a channel established with the calling terminal in response to the call connection response signal at step 615.
• the private automatic branch exchange transmits a call release request signal to the service provision apparatus at step 619.
• the service provision apparatus stores call information, including a calling terminal identifier, a called terminal identifier and a call origination time, at step 621, and transmits the call information to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal at step 623.
• the call information is preferably transmitted to the mobile terminal using a short message service.
• the service provision apparatus transmits a voice mailbox message to the calling terminal, thus providing the voice mailbox service at step 625.
• the service provision apparatus transmits a call release response signal to the private automatic branch exchange at step 627.
• the private automatic branch exchange releases the call by transmitting a call release request signal to the originating exchange on the basis of the received call release response signal at step 629.
• the voice mailbox service at step 625 can be provided prior to the call information transmission service at steps 621 and 623.
• FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen for call information received by the mobile terminal associated with a called terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• a service provision apparatus transmits the call information to the mobile terminal associated with the called terminal in the form of a short message if the called terminal does not answer a call.
• the mobile terminal having received the call information, displays a call information screen 701 on a display unit.
• the call information includes a calling terminal identifier and a call origination time, and a user, having identified the call information, can directly place a call to the calling terminal corresponding to the calling terminal identifier by pressing a confirm button.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Sub-Exchange Stations And Push- Button Telephones (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-07-21 KR KR1020040056930A patent/KR100705365B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-09-01 WO PCT/KR2004/002197 patent/WO2006009335A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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