WO2007097560A1

WO2007097560A1 - Method for providing selective communication services enabling both caller and receiver to listen the same musical sound

Info

Publication number: WO2007097560A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/000884
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung Ryol Yu
Original assignee: Betawave Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-20
Filing date: 2007-02-20
Publication date: 2007-08-30

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of providing a selective communication service in a server capable of providing communication service. The method includes the steps of the server capable of providing communication service receiving an allowed reception condition from a user terminal; selecting a ring tone corresponding to the allowed reception condition; storing the allowed reception condition in a database in association with the ring tone file; providing a ring tone file corresponding to the allowed reception condition to the user terminal; providing corresponding information, in which the allowed reception condition set by the user is associated with the ring tone file, to the user terminal; when a call connection is requested by a calling party terminal, determining whether the connection request meets the allowed reception condition; and if the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition, sending the playback sound to the calling party terminal.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE COMMUNICATION

SERVICES ENABLING BOTH CALLER AND RECEIVER TO

LISTEN THE SAME MUSICAL SOUND

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a method of providing a selective communication service that enables a called party and a calling party to listen to the same sound before making a telephone call. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of providing a selective communication service that enables a called party and a calling party to listen to the same sound before making a telephone call, which is operated in such a manner that the called party registers allowed reception conditions and sound source files corresponding to the allowed reception conditions with a server of a communication service provider, downloads the allowed reception conditions and the sound source files to his or her communication terminal, transmits the playback sound of a corresponding sound source file to the calling party if the calling party meets one of the allowed reception conditions, and allows the called party to listen to the playback sound of the sound source file downloaded from the communication terminal of the called party as a ring tone if the call connection request of the calling party meets the allowed reception condition.

Background Art

[2] Recently, due to the development of mobile communication and data communication and the construction of various infrastructures, individual communication has been popularized and commercialized. Accordingly, communication service has been diversified to the extent that it is rarely limited by time, location and content. Therefore, users can take an advantage of obtaining all desired information via communication service, regardless of where they are located and what they are doing.

[3] However, such popularization and commercialization of communication service causes a new problem in that unwanted calls or unnecessary information are un- limitedly provided to users because such provision has almost no temporal and spatial limitations.

[4] For example, if an unwanted telephone call, such as an insurance sales call or a survey call, is incoming in the case where a user performs an intensive task or participates in an important meeting in a state in which a communication terminal, such as a mobile phone or a wired telephone, is not turned off so as to receive an urgent call, the user must take a call first and then express the user's intention to reject the call. Accordingly, the user cannot follow the flow of the task or meeting due to the un- necessary call, thereby suffering serious damage. Furthermore, it is true that several tens of spam text messages or spam automated sound messages impose much psychological stress on the user in a day, to the extent that they can be called pollution. Accordingly, there has been a demand for a service that can block calls or spam messages, which are undesired by a user, before receiving them. In response to this demand, several service technologies, such as an automated response service, a Caller Identification (CID) service, a blacklist-based preliminary call blocking service and a spam blocking service, have been developed.

[5] The service technologies will be described below in brief. The automated response service is the most traditional service in which a basic call selection right is provided to a user by causing a call to be immediately sent to a voice message box after a certain ring signal. This service is ineffective because the user must listen to a ring tone while waiting for a specific period of time during ring signaling. Furthermore, the CID service is a service in which the telephone number of a calling party who makes a call to a user's communication terminal is displayed during ring signaling, so that the user can determine whether to answer the corresponding call, and thus can selectively answer calls. This service method is a method that has been widely used. However, even in this case, since a user must check the telephone numbers of calling parties one by one via a communication terminal and determine whether they are wanted calls whenever a ring tone or vibration is generated, inefficiency still remains and this method is not practical for users who must accept frequent calls for vocational reasons. Meanwhile, the blacklist-based preliminary call blocking service is a service in which a user previously registers undesired telephone numbers with a communication terminal or a telephone station server, and the communication terminal or the telephone station server previously blocks calls when call connection requests are made from the corresponding telephone numbers, thereby preventing the user from receiving unwanted calls. However, it is true that the preliminary call blocking service cannot fully satisfy users' needs because a user must store all respective telephone numbers of an undesired blacklist in a communication terminal or a telephone station server, and it is impossible to block calls, the calling parties of which cannot be known, such as public telephone calls, or spam calls, for which telephone numbers are frequently changed, although all the telephone numbers have been stored. Furthermore, the spam blocking service that blocks spam messages and spam mails transferred via Short Message Service (SMS) or wireless Internet e-mail has the same problems as the call blocking services because the spam blocking service is based on a concept similar to that of the call blocking service.

[6] Therefore, it is preferred that a called party, that is, a user, receive only calls that meet his or her unique allowed reception conditions. In addition, if a calling party who meets an allowed reception condition can listen to the same sound before making a telephone call and can feel sympathy toward the same sound before the call, a call with the calling party who meets the allowed reception condition can be more pleasant. The pleasure of such a selective call service will be the same for both the called and the calling parties.

[7] Accordingly, the development of a method of providing a selective communication service in the case where allowed reception conditions are met has been greatly requested.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method of providing a selective communication service, in which data about allowed reception conditions, such as allowed telephone numbers for reception, text messages and e-mail addresses, is received from a user and is then stored, and a coloring sound based on a corresponding allowed reception condition is played back at the request of a calling party terminal for communication, thereby allowing the user to avoid communication pollution.

[9] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of providing a selective communication service, in which data about allowed reception conditions, such as allowed telephone numbers for reception, text messages and e-mail addresses, is received from a user and is then stored, sound source files are associated with the allowed reception conditions, the allowed reception conditions and the sound source files are downloaded to a user terminal and can be played at the user terminal in conformity to the allowed reception conditions, and a coloring sound based on a corresponding allowed reception condition is played back at the request of a calling party terminal for communication, thereby allowing a called party and the calling party to listen to the same sound before making a telephone call. Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above object s, the present invention provides a method of providing a selective communication service in a server capable of providing communication service, the method comprising the steps of the server capable of providing communication service receiving an allowed reception condition from a user terminal; selecting a ring tone corresponding to the allowed reception condition; storing the allowed reception condition, set by the user, in a database in association with the ring tone file; providing a ring tone file corresponding to the allowed reception condition, stored in the database, to the user terminal; providing corresponding information, in which the allowed reception condition set by the user is associated with the ring tone file, to the user terminal; when a call connection is requested by a calling party terminal, determining whether the connection request meets the allowed reception condition; and if, as a result of the determination, the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition, sending a playback sound of the corresponding ring tone file to the calling party terminal.

[11] The user terminal determines whether the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition when the call connected is requested by the calling party, and the ring tone provided in association with the allowed reception condition by the server is played back if the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition, the ring tone played back at the user terminal being identical to the ring tone provided to the calling party terminal.

[12] If the allowed reception information set in the server does not coincide with the allowed reception information set in the user terminal, the server provides the allowed reception information, stored in the database, to the user terminal.

[13] Preferably, the allowed reception information set in the user terminal is updated using the allowed reception information provided by the server.

[14] The user terminal provides the allowed reception information to the server if the allowed reception information set in the server does not coincide with the allowed reception information set in the user terminal, and the server is updated using the allowed reception information provided by the user terminal.

[15] The communication service server compares the allowed reception condition, provided by the user terminal, with the allowed reception information stored in the database, and updates corresponding information of the user terminal by providing the corresponding information to the user terminal if, as a result of the comparison, the allowed reception condition set in the user terminal does not coincide with any of the allowed reception conditions set in the server.

[16] The method further includes the steps of downloading a plurality of music files of ring tones to the user terminal and storing the plurality of music files of ring tones in the database by repeating the ring tone download and database storage steps; if the user sets desired sounds for telephone numbers set for the allowed reception conditions, assigning unique codes to the plurality of ring tone music files, stored in the database, based on the ring tone setting information of the user, and storing the music files in association with the unique codes; and searching the database for a music file of the corresponding ring tone using a unique code at a time of ring signaling for the connected call.

[17] When the user sets the ring tones, the user classifies telephone numbers, set in each of the allowed reception conditions, according to at least one of individual clas- sification, group classification, grade classification and time interval classification, and sets desired ring tones for the classified telephone numbers.

[18] Preferably, the music files are MP3 files.

[19] Preferably, at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wireless communication terminal.

[20] At least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wired communication terminal, and the wired communication terminal comprises a modem for downloading the ring tone file, and a ring tone playback module for playing back the ring tone file.

[21] Preferably, the user terminal downloads the music file via a wired/wireless Internet and a voice message box networked with the communication service server.

[22] In addition, the present invention provides a method of providing a selective communication service in a server capable of providing communication service, the method including the steps of the server capable of providing communication service receiving allowed reception conditions via a user terminal; selecting ring tone files corresponding to the allowed reception conditions; storing the allowed reception conditions, set by the user, in a database in association with the ring tone files; when a call connection is requested by a calling party terminal, determining whether the connection request meets one of the allowed reception conditions; if, as a result of the determination, the call connection request meets one of the allowed reception conditions, sending a playback sound of a corresponding ring tone file to the calling party terminal; and sending the playback sound of the ring tone file to the user terminal.

[23] Preferably, when the user sets the ring tones, the user classifies telephone numbers, set in the allowed reception condition, according to at least one of individual classification, group classification, grade classification and time interval classification, and sets desired ring tones for the classified telephone numbers.

[24] Preferably, the music files are MP3 files.

[25] Preferably, at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wireless communication terminal.

[26] Preferably, at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wired communication terminal; and the wired communication terminal comprises a ring tone playback module for playing back the ring tone files.

Advantageous Effects

[27] In Accordance with the method of providing a selective communication service according to the present invention, data about allowed reception conditions, such as allowed telephone numbers for reception, text messages and e-mail addresses, are received from a user and is then stored, and a coloring sound corresponding to a corresponding allowed reception condition is provided to the user and a calling party at the request of a calling party terminal for communication, thereby allowing the user to distinguish wanted calling parties from unwanted calling parties. Accordingly, the user can avoid communication pollution that occurs in various forms such as unwanted calls, short messages and e-mails.

[28] Furthermore, when a communication request is made by the calling party terminal, the called party and the calling party can be allowed to listen to the same sound before making a telephone call if the communication request meets one of the allowed reception conditions. Brief Description of the Drawings

[29] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication service system capable of providing a selective communication service according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[30] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the module arrangement of a control server shown in FIG. 1 ;

[31] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a allowed reception condition setting window that is provided by the reception condition setting module of the control server shown in FIG. 2;

[32] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction of a wired communication service system capable of providing a selective communication service according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[33] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a service method based on the system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[34] FIG. 6 is a conceptual block diagram showing the wired communication terminal

500 of the wired communication service system shown in FIG. 4;

[35] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of providing a selecti ve communication service based on the wireless communication system;

[36] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of synchronizing allowed reception information and corresponding information between a server and a user terminal; and

[37] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of updating allowed reception information and corresponding information by providing allowed reception information and corresponding information, provided in a user terminal, to a server. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[38] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

[39] Since wireless and wired communication service systems capable of providing a selective communication service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are respectively implemented using wireless and wired communication service systems, respective systems and respective service methods using the systems will be described in conjunction with respective embodiments.

[40] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a wireless communication service system capable of providing a selective communication service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

[41] Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless communication service system 100 includes a wireless communication exchange 20, a short message center 30 and an e-mail server 40, which operate in conjunction with one another, and a control server 10, which operates in conjunction with them. All of calls and request signals requested from the wireless communication exchange 20, the short message center 30 and the e-mail server 40 by a calling party terminal 50 are transmitted to a user terminal 60 only in response to authorization commands from the control server 10.

[42] Each of the elements is described in detail below. When a call connection request signal is received from the calling party terminal 50, the wireless communication exchange 20 sends calling information and a command request message to the control server 10, and then connects a call by issuing a ringing signal to the user terminal 60 when a call connection authorization command message is received from the control server 10. When a short message transmission request message is received from the calling party terminal 50, the short message center 30 sends calling information and a command request message to the control server 10, and then sends a short message to the user terminal 60 when a transmission authorization command message is received from the control server 10. When an e-mail is received from the calling party terminal 60, the e-mail server 40 sends calling information and a command request message to the control server 10, and then sends the e-mail to the user terminal 60 when a transmission authorization command message is received from the control server 10.

[43] The control server 10 receives allowed reception conditions from a user and stores them in a database 11. In this case, the user may associate different ring tone files with respective allowed reception conditions at the time of setting the allowed reception conditions. For example, ring tone files may have associations based on the following items:

[44] I) A ring tone file for calling information about the fact that reception is desired.

[45] 2) A ring tone file for calling information about the fact that reception is not desired.

[46] 3) A ring tone file for calling from a national authority or an individual in the event of an emergency.

[47] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the module arrangement of the control server 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in this drawing, the control server 10 includes the database 11, an external interface module 16, a voice message box service module 13, an allowed reception condition setting module 14, and a control module 12.

[48] The external interface module 16 performs an interface function so that the control server 10 can operate in conjunction with the wireless communication exchange 20, the short message center 30 and the e-mail server 40, and thus they can exchange data with one another.

[49] The voice message box service module 13 provides the user terminal 60 with a voice message box, provides a guide announcement according to an allowed reception condition setting procedure, and transfers data about input allowed reception conditions to the allowed reception condition setting module 14.

[50] The allowed reception condition setting module 14 performs a function of receiving allowed reception conditions from a user and storing them in the database 11. In order to support the input of allowed reception conditions, the allowed reception condition setting module 14 may provide an allowed reception condition input window 15 via the wired/wireless Internet, and request the voice message box service module 13 to send data about allowed reception conditions.

[51] Accordingly, the user may access the wired/wireless Internet using a computer terminal or his or her user terminal 60 and then directly enter allowed reception conditions to the allowed reception condition input window 15, or may access the voice message box service module 13 using the user terminal 60 and then set allowed reception conditions in conformity to a guide announcement.

[52] Meanwhile, the term 'allowed reception conditions' refers to information about allowed calling parties for reception, such as telephone numbers, short message addresses and e-mail addresses from which the user desires to receive calls, messages and e-mails, time-based information about allowed reception that allows the user to set allowed calling parties for reception on a time basis and to make calls with them, and information about password setting that allows passwords to be requested at the time of calls.

[53] The information about allowed calling parties for reception is described in greater detail below.

[54] 1. Allowed telephone numbers for reception: Telephone numbers that a user can call. They may be set for respective groups, such as "family," "colleagues" and "friends," and may be set for respective grades depending on the importance of telephone numbers or groups. Furthermore, a user may access the allowed reception condition setting module 14 or the voice message box service module 13 via the Internet or a wireless communication network and then directly input the allowed telephone numbers for reception, or a telephone directory (a telephone directory that is stored in a user terminal and has been directly input by a user) may be directly downloaded from the user terminal 60 over the wireless Internet.

[55] 2. Allowed short message transmission numbers for reception: The transmission numbers of short messages for which reception is allowed by a user. The allowed short message transmission numbers for reception may be directly input via the Internet and a voice message box, or a telephone directory may be downloaded over the wireless Internet. In the case of short messages, short messages, such as details of credit card payment, various coupons and details of accounts, for which transmission numbers do not exist in the telephone directory of the user terminal 60, but which are necessary for a user, may be transmitted, so that the user inputs such transmission numbers separately.

[56] 3. Allowed e-mail addresses for reception: Allowed E-mail address for reception, for which reception is allowed by a user. The allowed e-mail addresses for reception may be directly input by a user over the Internet, or an e-mail address directory stored in the user terminal 60 may be downloaded.

[57] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an allowed reception condition setting window that is provided by the allowed reception condition setting module 14 of the control server 10 shown in FIG. 2. It can be seen that allowed telephone numbers for reception, allowed short message transmission numbers for reception and allowed e-mail addresses for reception can be entered therein, and are set for respective groups or grades. The allowed reception condition setting window 15 is provided with a menu that allows ring tones to be set for allowed telephone numbers for reception, short messages and e-mails. Ring tones can be set for respective groups of allowed telephone numbers for reception (managers, friends and colleagues). Furthermore, in the allowed reception condition setting window 15, a separate ring tone may be set for telephone numbers for which reception is not allowed. In this case, different ring tones may be set for respective time intervals. For example, in the drawing, time information, that is, allowed reception information, is set to "AM 9 ~ 12" and allowed reception grade information is set to "grade 1." A user may determine ring tone grades for respective time intervals. As a result, when an unwanted call is incoming, a user can determine whether to answer the call without checking the user terminal 60. Although not shown in the drawing, ring tones can be set for respective short messages and e-mail addresses. Separate ring tones may also be set for undesired short messages and e-mail addresses.

[58] <Embodiment 1>

[59] Embodiment 1 relates to a service method using the wireless communication service system capable of providing selective communication service, which is described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 3. [60] First, the wireless communication service system 100 provides sound files stored in the database 11 at the request of a user, allows a sound file, selected by the user, to be downloaded to the user terminal 60 by sending it to the user terminal 60, and, at the same time, and causes the sound file to be stored as the user ring tone information of the database 11. At this time, sound files stored as the user ring tone information are managed, with unique codes, classified according to the user's setting, being assigned thereto.

[61] When a call connection request is made from the calling party terminal 50 to the wireless communication service system 100, the wireless communication service system 100 determines whether the call connection request of the calling party terminal 50 meets an allowed reception condition. If the allowed reception condition is met, the wireless communication service system 100 sends the playback sound of a sound file corresponding to the allowed reception condition, stored in the database 11, to the calling party terminal 50. The wireless communication service system 100 transfers the call connection request to the user terminal 60. At this time, in order to listen to the playback sound of the same sound file in the user terminal 60 together with the calling party, there may be used any of 1) a method in which the wireless communication service system 100 sends the playback sound of a sound file to the user terminal 60, and 2) a method in which the user terminal 60 receives a call connection request from the wireless communication service system 100 and plays back a sound file corresponding to the allowed reception condition when the allowed reception condition. The sound file stored as the user ring tone information is also output to the calling party terminal 50 as the same ring tone when it is output as a ring tone to the user terminal 60.

[62] The method of the present invention is different in concept from a typical coloring service in that the method of the present invention provides the same ring tone to the calling party terminal 50 and the user terminal 60 according to the allowed reception condition set by the user terminal 60. However, an effect identical to that of the coloring service is provided because a ring tone set by the user terminal 60 can be listened to at the calling party terminal 50 when the calling terminal 50 requests call connection from the user terminal 60. Accordingly, the ring tone of the user terminal 60 and the coloring service sound of the calling party terminal 50 are based on the same sound file. That is, it is possible to set a ring tone and a coloring service at the same time. Mode for the Invention

[63] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the construction of a wired communication service system capable of providing a selective communication service according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[64] Referring to FIG. 4, the wired communication service system 400 capable of providing a selective communication service includes an exchange 420, a voice message box center 430, and a control server 410.

[65] When a call connection request signal is received from a calling party terminal 510, the exchange 420 sends calling information and a command request message to the control server 410, and then connects a call by issuing a ring signal to a wired communication terminal 500 if a call connection authorization command message is received from the control server 410. In contrast, when a call connection rejection command message is received, the exchange 420 connects a call to the voice message box center 430.

[66] The voice message box center 430 functions to provide the wired communication terminal 500 with a voice message box, provide a user with a guide announcement for the setting of allowed reception conditions, and transmit allowed reception conditions, input in conformity to the guide announcement, to the control server 410.

[67] In this case, the term 'allowed reception conditions' refers to allowed telephone numbers for reception, which can be set for respective groups or grades, and time- based allowed reception information. Accordingly, the user inputs allowed telephone numbers for reception for respective groups and grades and inputs time-based allowed reception information, so that he or she can answer calls from desired calling parties in respective time intervals.

[68] The control server 410 receives allowed reception conditions from the voice message box center 430, and stores them in the database 411. The control server 410 can provide an Internet service, and provides an allowed reception condition input window 412 so as to allow a user to directly access Internet and input allowed reception conditions to the control server 410, even though the allowed reception conditions are not received from the voice message box center 430.

[69] FIG. 6 is a conceptual block diagram showing the wired communication terminal

500 of the wired communication service system shown in FIG. 4.

[70] The shown wired communication terminal 500 includes a modem 501 for interfacing with the wired communication system 400 over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and handling a call connection, a codec 502 for decoding a sound signal from the calling party terminal 510, a dial 505 and a display 503 for allowing a user to input allowed reception conditions in conformity to a guide message provided via the voice message box center 430 of the wired communication service system 400, and a processor 504 for generally controlling the wired communication terminal 500. In this case, the modem 501 may be further provided with a function of accessing an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) via a telephone line and the Internet line via a telephone line as well as a function of transmitting/receiving typical sound signals. In this case, the wired communication terminal 500 may connect with the Internet, access a webpage of the wired communication system, and set allowed reception conditions.

[71 ] <Embodiment 2>

[72] Embodiment 2 relates to a service method using the wired communication service system capable of providing a selective communication service, which is described in conjunction with FIG. 4.

[73] First, a plurality of sound files must be previously stored in the database 411 of the wired communication service system 400 so as to provide ring tones. They can be provided via the wired/wireless Internet and a sound service. Here, the sound files must be files capable of playing back high quality sound contents, such as MP3 files.

[74] The wired communication service system 400 provides sound files, stored in the database 411, to a user at the request of the user, and allows a sound file, selected by the user 501, to be downloaded to the wired communication terminal 500 by sending it to the wired communication terminal 500, and, at the same time, causes it to be stored as the user ring tone information of the database 411. Here, sound files stored as the user ring tone information are managed, with unique codes, classified according to the ring tone setting of the user, being assigned thereto.

[75] When a call connection request is made from the calling party terminal 510 to the wired communication service system 400, the wired communication service system 400 determines whether the call connection request of the calling party terminal 510 meets an allowed reception condition. If the call connection request meets an allowed reception condition, the wired communication service system 400 sends the playback sound of the sound file corresponding to the allowed reception condition, stored in the database 411, to the calling party terminal 510. Thereafter, the wired communication service system 400 transfers the call connection request to the wired communication terminal 500. At this time, in order to listen to the playback sound of the same sound file at the wired communication terminal 500 together with the calling party, there may be used any of 1) a method in which the wired communication service system 400 transmits the playback sound of the sound file to the wired communication terminal 500, and 2) a method in which the wired communication terminal 500 receives the call connection request from the wired communication service system 400 and plays back a sound file corresponding to an allowed reception condition if the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition. The sound file stored as the user ring tone information as described above is output to the calling party terminal 510 as the same ring tone when it is output to the wired communication terminal 500 as a ring tone. [76] The sound file stored as the user ring tone information as described above is output as a coloring sound when the ring tone is output from the wired communication terminal 500 at the time of ring signaling. Accordingly, the ring tone of the wired communication terminal 500 and the coloring sound of the calling party terminal 510 are played back based on the same sound file.

[77] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a service method based on the wired communication system.

[78] First, the user 501 must access the wired communication service system 400, and input a desired allowed reception condition at step S61. Such allowed reception conditions may be input via a webpage or a voice message box, and may be variously set for respective groups, respective grades, and/or respective time intervals. Thereafter, the user 501 accesses the wired communication service system 400 so as to set a ring tone function, selects a desired ring tone at step S62, and downloads it onto the wired communication terminal 500. At this time, the wired communication service system 400 separately stores a sound file of a ring tone, sent to the wired communication terminal 500, in the database 411. As a result, the sound file of the ring tone selected by the user is stored in both the wired communication terminal 500 and the database 411 at step S63.

[79] Meanwhile, the user 501 selects a plurality of ring tones and downloads them to the wired communication terminal 500 by repeating the download step (step S63), and then may classify, select and set ring tones according to the previously set allowed reception conditions at step S64.

[80] In other words, different ring tones may be set for telephone numbers set for respective groups, grades and time intervals. Furthermore, different ring tones may be selected for individual telephone numbers. Moreover, ring tones may be variously classified and set according to the preference of the user 501.

[81] When the downloading of the ring tones and the classification and setting of the ring tones are completed, the wired communication service system 400 assigns unique codes to respective sound files of the ring tones, sent to the wired communication terminal 500, according to the ring tone setting of the user 501, and stores them as user ring tone information in the database 411 at step S65.

[82] Thereafter, when a call connection request signal is received from the calling party terminal 510 at step S66, the wired communication service system 400 compares the information of the calling party terminal 510 with the allowed reception conditions of the user 501 stored in the database 411 at step S67. If an allowed reception condition is met, the wired communication service system 400 searches the user ring tone information of the database 411, plays back a sound file corresponding to the information of the calling party terminal 510 as a coloring sound at step S68, and then connects a call at step S70. At this time, a ring tone identical to the coloring sound is also output to the wired communication terminal 500. Meanwhile, if all the allowed reception conditions are not met, the calling party terminal 510 is connected to the voice message box at step S69.

[83] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method of providing a selective communication service based on the wireless communication system.

[84] First, a user sets allowed reception conditions using a user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60). The term allowed reception conditions refers to information about the transmission of calling parties, such as wired/wireless telephone numbers, e- mail addresses, information about allowed calling parties for the reception of short messages, and information about ring tones for the transmission information of allowed calling parties for reception. In the present specification, information about ring tones grouped and set for the transmission information of allowed calling parties for reception is referred to as corresponding information.

[85] After a user sets an allowed reception condition and corresponding information, the user provides them to the server via a user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60). The server acquires the allowed reception condition and the corresponding information from the user terminal at step S71. Thereafter, when a call connection is made from the calling party terminal to the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S72, the server determines whether transmission information meets the allowed reception condition by comparing the allowed reception condition, provided by the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), with the transmission information (for example, the telephone number of the calling party terminal) of the calling party terminal at step S73. If, as a result of the determination, the transmission information coincides with the allowed reception condition, the server plays back a ring tone file based on the corresponding information and provides it to the calling party terminal (for example, reference numeral 50) at step S74. Otherwise the calling party terminal (for example, reference numeral 50) is connected to the voice message box of the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S75. When a ring tone playback sound is provided to the calling party terminal (for example, reference numeral 50), a ring tone identical to the ring tone playback sound provided by the server to the calling party terminal (for example, reference numeral 50) is played back at the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60). Accordingly, if the terminal of the calling party meets the allowed reception condition, the same ring tone is played back at the calling party terminal (for example, reference numeral 50) and the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), so that both parties can feel an affinity with each other.

[86] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of synchronizing allowed reception in- formation and corresponding information between a server and a user terminal.

[87] First, the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) receives allowed reception information and corresponding information from a user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S81. The control server (for example, reference numeral 10) periodically determines whether the allowed reception information and the corresponding information provided in the database (for example, reference numeral 11) of the server coincide with those provided in the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) while communicating with the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S 82. If, as a result of the determination, the allowed reception information and the corresponding information stored in the database (for example, reference numeral 11) do not coincide with those set in the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) sends the allowed reception information and the corresponding information stored in the database (for example, reference numeral 11) to the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S83, thereby updating the allowed reception information and the corresponding information of the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60). In contrast, FIG. 9 shows an example of updating allowed reception information and the corresponding information by providing the allowed reception information and the corresponding information, provided in the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), to the server.

[88] First, the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) receives allowed reception information and the corresponding information from the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S91. The control server (for example, reference numeral 10) determines whether the allowed reception information and the corresponding information stored in the database (for example, reference numeral 11) of the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) coincide with those set in the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S92 while periodically communicating with the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60). If, as a result of the determination, the allowed reception information and the corresponding information stored in the database of the control server do not coincide with those set in the user terminal, the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) requests the allowed reception information and the corresponding information from the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), and the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) sends the allowed reception information and the corresponding information to the control server (for example, reference numeral 10) at step S93. The control server (for example, reference numeral 10) receives the allowed reception information and the corresponding information, provided by the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60), and updates the allowed reception information and the corresponding information stored in the database (for example, reference numeral 11) based on the allowed reception information and the corresponding information received from the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) at step S94. Therefore, although the allowed reception information and the corresponding information set in the user terminal (for example, reference numeral 60) are updated by the user, the server can reflect it and provide a desired ring tone to the calling party terminal.

[89] Although a description associated with FIGS. 7 to 9 have been made above based on the wireless communication terminal and the wireless communication system, this is merely an example. The same effects can be obtained even if the wireless communication terminal and the wireless communication system are respectively replaced with a wired communication terminal and a wired communication system.

[90] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Accordingly, variation in the embodiment of the present invention does not depart from the technical scope of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

[91] As described above, In Accordance with the method of providing a selective communication service according to the present invention, data about allowed reception conditions, such as allowed telephone numbers for reception, text messages and e-mail addresses, are received from a user and is then stored, and a coloring sound corresponding to a corresponding allowed reception condition is provided to the user and a calling party at the request of a calling party terminal for communication, thereby allowing the user to distinguish wanted calling parties from unwanted calling parties. Accordingly, the user can avoid communication pollution that occurs in various forms such as unwanted calls, short messages and e-mails.

[92] Furthermore, when a communication request is made by the calling party terminal, the called party and the calling party can be allowed to listen to the same sound before making a telephone call if the communication request meets one of the allowed reception conditions.

Claims

[1] A method of providing a selective communication service in a server capable of providing communication service, the method comprising the steps of: the server capable of providing communication service receiving an allowed reception condition from a user terminal; selecting a ring tone corresponding to the allowed reception condition; storing the allowed reception condition, set by the user, in a database in association with the ring tone file; providing a ring tone file corresponding to the allowed reception condition, stored in the database, to the user terminal; providing corresponding information, in which the allowed reception condition set by the user is associated with the ring tone file, to the user terminal; when a call connection is requested by a calling party terminal, determining whether the connection request meets the allowed reception condition; and if, as a result of the determination, the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition, sending a playback sound of the corresponding ring tone file to the calling party terminal.

[2] The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the user terminal determines whether the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition when the call connected is requested by the calling party, and the ring tone provided in association with the allowed reception condition by the server is played back if the call connection request meets the allowed reception condition, the ring tone played back at the user terminal being identical to the ring tone provided to the calling party terminal.

[3] The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein, if the allowed reception information set in the server does not coincide with the allowed reception information set in the user terminal, the server provides the allowed reception information, stored in the database, to the user terminal.

[4] The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the allowed reception information set in the user terminal is updated using the allowed reception information provided by the server.

[5] The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: if the allowed reception information set in the server does not coincide with the allowed reception information set in the user terminal, the user terminal provides the allowed reception information to the server; and the server is updated using the allowed reception information provided by the user terminal.

[6] The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the communication service server compares the allowed reception condition, provided by the user terminal, with the allowed reception information stored in the database, and updates corresponding information of the user terminal by providing the corresponding information to the user terminal if, as a result of the comparison, the allowed reception condition set in the user terminal does not coincide with any of the allowed reception conditions set in the server.

[7] The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: downloading a plurality of music files of ring tones to the user terminal and storing the plurality of music files of ring tones in the database by repeating the ring tone download and database storage steps; if the user sets desired sounds for telephone numbers set for the allowed reception conditions, assigning unique codes to the plurality of ring tone music files, stored in the database, based on the ring tone setting information of the user, and storing the music files in association with the unique codes; and searching the database for a music file of the corresponding ring tone using a unique code at a time of ring signaling for the connected call.

[8] The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, when the user sets the ring tones, the user classifies telephone numbers, set in each of the allowed reception conditions, according to at least one of individual classification, group classification, grade classification and time interval classification, and sets desired ring tones for the classified telephone numbers.

[9] The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the music files are MP3 files.

[10] The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wireless communication terminal.

[11] The selective communication service providing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wired communication terminal; and the wired communication terminal comprises a modem for downloading the ring tone file, and a ring tone playback module for playing back the ring tone file.

[12] The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the user terminal downloads the music file via a wired/wireless Internet and a voice message box networked with the communication service server.

[13] A method of providing a selective communication service in a server capable of providing communication service, the method comprising the steps of: the server capable of providing communication service receiving allowed reception conditions via a user terminal; selecting ring tone files corresponding to the allowed reception conditions; storing the allowed reception conditions, set by the user, in a database in association with the ring tone files; when a call connection is requested by a calling party terminal, determining whether the connection request meets one of the allowed reception conditions; if, as a result of the determination, the call connection request meets one of the allowed reception conditions, sending a playback sound of a corresponding ring tone file to the calling party terminal; and sending the playback sound of the ring tone file to the user terminal.

[14] The method according to claim 13, wherein, when the user sets the ring tones, the user classifies telephone numbers, set in the allowed reception condition, according to at least one of individual classification, group classification, grade classification and time interval classification, and sets desired ring tones for the classified telephone numbers.

[15] The method according to claim 14, wherein the music files are MP3 files.

[16] The method according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wireless communication terminal.

[17] The selective communication service providing method according to any one of claim 14, wherein: at least one of the user terminal and the calling party terminal is a wired communication terminal; and the wired communication terminal comprises a ring tone playback module for playing back the ring tone files.