Calling Party Controlled Ringback Tone Override System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ringback tone services do not provide the calling party with control over the tone or message played while waiting for a call to be established, leading to potential annoyance or offense from the called party's selection, and service providers lack control over off-network messages.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a calling party controlled ringback tone system that allows users to select and play a substitute ringback tone, which can be purchased or a standard tone, overriding the called party's selection, using a media server and service control point to manage the call flow and billing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the called party selects a ringback tone, then the called party can personalize their incoming call experience, but the calling party has no control and may find the tone annoying or offensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service provider system as an intermediary between the calling and called parties. This mediator has the authority to override the called party's ringback tone selection and substitute it with a standard ringing tone or another tone at the service provider's discretion, thereby resolving the control conflict without requiring direct negotiation between the two parties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional ringback tone control model by allowing the service provider (rather than the called party) to select and control the ringback tone. This inversion transfers control from the called party to the service provider, enabling the service provider to protect calling parties from unwanted tones while maintaining service flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the service provider allows off-network ringback tones, then service diversity increases, but the service provider loses control over the messages being played
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control authority for ringback tone selection from the called party and off-network sources, centralizing it at the service provider. The service provider maintains a controlled set of approved ringback tones and has the final say in which tone is played, thereby maintaining reliability and control while still offering service diversity through the available tone options
3Ease of operation
If a substitute ringback tone system is implemented, then calling party control is achieved, but system complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the service provider automatically determines whether to override a ringback tone based on pre-configured rules and criteria. The system autonomously makes substitution decisions without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time negotiations, thereby achieving calling party control through automated policies rather than complex interactive control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A computer readable medium stores a program for a calling party controlled ringback tone service. The service enables a calling party to control ringback tones, even overriding called party selected ringback tones. The service can operate in a wireless or wireline network, such as a voice over IP (VoIP) network or time division multiplexed (TDM) network. The calling party can be periodically billed for the ringback tone control service, as well as the ringback tones. The subscriber can configure the service via the web.