Replacing Telephone Tones with Audible Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication providers face challenges in effectively communicating messages to users, as users tend to ignore or avoid standard telephone tones, and mobile devices are sensitive to battery power depletion, necessitating a solution to minimize message duration and enhance message delivery.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system and method for providing audible messages on communication devices in replacement of standard telephone tones, using a tone provider module that detects telephone tones and replaces them with pre-defined audible messages, including advertisements and announcements, stored in an audible messages database, which can be locally or remotely accessed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard telephone tones are used to communicate messages to users, then message delivery is simple and requires minimal resources, but users tend to ignore or avoid these messages reducing communication effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of message presentation from standard telephone tones to ringback tones and other audio formats. By altering the auditory characteristics (tone type, duration, repetition pattern), the system makes messages more engaging while maintaining simple delivery infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and plays different ringback tones based on user profiles, message types, and call contexts. This dynamic adaptation increases user engagement by presenting customized, interesting messages rather than static standard tones
2Reliability
If audible messages are played on mobile communication devices to enhance message delivery, then user engagement increases, but battery power depletes faster
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous audio playback, the system uses periodic ringback tones that pause between repetitions. This periodic action maintains message delivery effectiveness while significantly reducing battery consumption compared to continuous audio playback
Solution Approach 2:
The system plays ringback tones for partial durations (interrupting calls or playing for limited repetitions) rather than continuous playback. This partial action suffices to deliver messages effectively while conserving battery power
3Reliability
If message duration is extended to improve communication effectiveness, then users have more time to process messages, but mobile devices consume more battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses repeated ringback tones at periodic intervals rather than extended continuous playback. This approach gives users multiple opportunities to process messages over time without requiring long continuous duration, thus balancing effectiveness with battery conservation
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer implemented system and method for providing at least one audible message at a communication device in replacement of a pre-determined telephone tone. There is provided a tone detector interface for detecting the pre-determined telephone tone provided at the communication device; an audible messages database accessible to the tone detector interface and the communication device, the audible messages database storing the audible messages; and a tone replacement module in communication with the tone detector interface. The tone replacement module, in response to detecting the pre-determined telephone tone, may provide the audible message, such as advertisements, in replacement of the pre-determined telephone tone.