TITLE : METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING RING BACK TONE PROFILES

TECHNlCAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to the field of RingBack Tones (RBT) selection. More particularly, the invention relates to setting RBT profiles.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

[002] Call progress tones during a telephone call signal the state of the device being called. Dial tone, engage tone, ringback, tone, and call waiting tone are examples of call progress tones.

[003] In addition to indicating the status of the device being called these tones are also known to be used for the purposes of entertainment of the caller making the call by playing music as RBT, Using music (or any such content with entertainment value) tunes as RBT has in itself become a good source of revenue generation for creators and/or owners of such music Facilities are provided for users to have RBT settings customized to specific callers. For example, users can set jokes as RBT for a group of his friends and a religious song as RBT for his family members or seniors.

[004] It is also known that telecommunication service providers provide facilities for users to set certain preferrences for RBT depending on the time of the day to override the existing settings for RBT- Therefore it is possible to select various profiles, each defined by an RBT for a particular period of time for a set of callers Setting RBT profiles can help a subscriber not only in projecting ones individuality by using appropriate tones.

[005] There exists a need for the subscriber to inform the callers about his inability to receive the call by communicating his situation at the time of a call. For example, during a meeting, a subscriber miy want to set an informational message as RBT where the informational message informs the caller that the subscriber is in a call for the next few hours and hence would not be able to take up any call during the time of the meeting.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[006] The primary object of the invention is to set an informational message as RBT to his callers.

[007] Another object of the invention is to provide the user with multiple interfaces to set the informational message as RBT.

(008] Another object of the invention is to provide a method and system that allows non-invasive way of setting RBT profiles.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[009] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and system to allow a subscriber to set his RBT profile wherein the profile can be set using a plurality of interfaces including but not limited to WAP, Web, SMS, USSD, and IVR,

[0010] The method of the invention comprises of a subscriber sending the profile information including the name of the profile to be set, the language in which the RBT needs to be played, and the time duration from the time at which the message was sent for which the specified RBT needs to be played; and the system accepting such a message to set the RBT according to the preferrences stated in the message.

[0011] The system of the invention comprises of a plurality of terminals providing the subscriber with plurality of interface options which allow the subscribers to send a message; a server comprising an RBT application; a Message Service Center (MSC) that redirects the message to the server for setting a profile according to the preferences given; and a database that essentially comprises of the profile date of various subscribes.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the subscriber may choose to list all profiles available by sending a message in a pre-defined format

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the server sets default values for the optional parameters for which the subscriber has noc set the values.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the server keeps checking the time duration for profile settings to deactivate at the right tone in accordance with the preferences given by subscribers.

[0015] Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRiPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above aspects of the invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart to illustrate one aspect of the method of the invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart to illustrate another aspect of the method of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart to illustrate another aspect of the method of the invention. FIG.4A illustrates the interaction in the system of the invention. FIG. 4B illustrates the components of the RBT server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWEINGS

[0017] The method and system of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying figures for illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not meant to be restrictive. The present invention provides a method and system to allow a subscriber to act his RBT profile wherein the profile can be set using a plurality of interfaces including but not limited to WAP/Web, SMS, USSD, and IVR. In one embodiment, SMS is used

[0018] Fig 1 illustrates one aspect of the method of the invention. A subscriber who wants to set a profile sends a message in the following format:

where <code> is a service provider specific code to recognize that the message intended for profile setting <profile> is the name of the profile that the subscriber intends to set as profile <lang> is the code of the language that the subscriber intends to set as language for the RBT. <hours> is the time duration from the time at which he sends the

[0019] CT Meeting hindi 1hr which means that the subscriber wants to set a "meeting" profile according to which a message will play in Hindi for the one hour saying that the subscriber is busy for the next one hour or till a particular time as calculated by the server as RBT. In the example given, "CT" is the code to indicate that the message is intended for profite setting. In one embodiment of the invention, the language and the time duration are optional components of the message.

[0020], Further, the optionsavailable for <profile> can include but are not limited to "Battery", where the subscriber can inform the caller that he is not available due to low battery at his terminal The subscriber can further set the RBT informing the caller that he is not available since he is "Busy": The subscriber can set his profile to inform the caller that he is "Driving". The subscriber can inform the caller that he is not available since he is in tbe "Gym" or "Class" or at a "Meeting". The subscriber can further inform the caller that he is not able to receive the call as his phone has be set for Roaming", further he can also inform about "International Roaming". The subscriber can further inform the caller that he has chosen not to receive the call at the moment by setting the "Nophone" option in the<profile>. The subscriber can further inform the caller that he is at "Dinner* or "Lunch" or in the "Canteen" of holidaying by setting the "Holiday" option for the <profile>. The subscriber can further set the profile to inform the caller of his state of being at the moment of the call by setting the <profile> as "Sleeping" or "Playing" or

"Unwell" or he has been detained due to "Rain " The subscriber can further inform the caller that he is with "Visitors" or at the "Movie".

[0021] The subscriber can send the message in the format as shown above using any of the plurality of interfaces provided wherein the bearer includes but is not limited to WAP, WEB, USSD, SMS, and IVR.

[0022] Subscriber sends a message as indicated above to a pre-determined shoncode. An MSC recognizes the code of the message and redirects the message to the server. Server receives the message. Server checks if the optional parameters are present, According to the example illustrated earlier, the server checks if there is language specified in the message. If there is no language specified, the server sets a default language; Then the server checks if the time duration, is specified. If time duration is not specified in the message, the server assigns a default time duration of one hour.

[0023] The method and aspects of the invention are illustrated by using the example of sending the profile information using SMS; otter interface provided by bearers including but not limited to IVR, WAP, WEB; USSD and IVR can also be used for sending the profile information.

[0024] Fig 2 illustrates an aspect of the invention with an example where a subscriber can receive a listof existing profiles as an SMS by sending an SMS in a pre- defined format. User sends a message in the following format:

<code> <profile list code>. where <code> represents the code assigned to a service provider to recognize that the message intended for profile setting related functionalities for the service provider to whom the <code> is assigned, and <profile list code> is the code name for the functionality to list ait available profile names so that a subscriber will be able to know them and use them as and when the need arises.

[0025] An example message to list profiles could look like this; CT LIST

Where "CT" is the code assigned to a service provider, the network of which the subscriber belongs; and "LIST" is the code for the service to list all available profiles through an SMS.

[0026] Subscriber sends a message to list all available profiles as indicated in the example. Server detects the command; identifies the subscriber's terminal through the message received; constructs one ot more messages with all available profiles; and sends the one or more messages constructed back to the subscriber. Subscriber can view/store the list for further use.

[0027] Fig 3 illustrates a further method of the invention where a subscriber can remove a set profile by sending an SMS in a pre-defined format User sends a message in the following format:

<code> <profile remove code> where <code> represents the code assigned to a service provider to recognize that the message intended for profile setting related functionalities for the service provider to whom the <code >is assigned, and <profile remove code> is the code name for the functionality to remove set profile and retain settings that existed before setting the profile that is sought to be removed

[0028] An example message to delete the set profile could took tike this; CT RMV which means that the subscriber would like to remove the existing profile and retain prior RBT settings that were existing before the subscriber had overridden the RBT setting by sending a message to set RBT profile. Here "CT" is the code assigned to a service provider, the network of which the subscriber belongs; and "RMV" is the code for the service to remove a set profile and retain settings that existed before setting the profile that is sought to be removed.

[0029]: Subscriber sends a message to remove a set profile as indicated in the example. Server detects the command; identifies the subscriber through the message received; checks if the profile specified is set for the subscriber, and if the profile is indeed set, server removes the profile to retain prior RBT settings until the subscriber sends another message to set a profile. Upon successful removal of profile, the server sends a confirmation message to the subscriber.

[0030] FIG. 4A illustrates an example system wherein the profile information is sent as an SMS for the implementation of preferred embodiments; the system components include subscriber terminal sending a message (401); a switching component. Message Service Center (MSC) (402) to identify and redirect messages to appropriate servers; a server comprising an RBT application (403); and a profile database mat comprises of the RBT profile data: of various subscribers.

[0031 ] FIG.4B illustrates the different components of the RBT server (404) and the server's interaction with the profile database (405).

[0032] The RBT server essentially includes a timer module (405) and a profile selection module (406). The profile selection module (406) interprets the messages

received and performs appropriate actions including setting profiles, preparing and sending message to list available profiles, and removing a set profile and sending a confirmation message through the MSC The timer module (405) checks the various profiles periodically for their validity according to the time durations and removes profiles as and when a profiles time duration is over. The timer module (405) sends commands to the profile selection module (406). to remove profiles as and when it detects any profiles completing their time duration.

[0031} The RBT server (403) further comprises of the Data access layer (407) to provide simplified access to the profile database (404).

[0034] Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to specific examples, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope or the following claims.