US6018654A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for downloading tones to mobile terminals
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
•
Filing: 1996-10-29
•
Granted: 2000-01-25
•
Expires: 2016-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for downloading tone data from a public land mobile network to a mobile telephone unit is disclosed. A mobile telephone unit includes means enabling the user to request downloading of tone data to the mobile telephone unit from a public land mobile network via a connection-less communications link such as the USSD or SMS. The downloaded tone data is uniquely associated with a selected telephone number within the mobile telephone unit such that a call to the mobile unit involving the telephone number initiates audio play back of the tone data.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Lee Valentine
- 👤 Jim Mills
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:53
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/22; H04W8/24; H04W8/245; H04M; H04M19/00; H04M19/02; H04M19/04; H04M1/00; H04M1/56; H04M1/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a wireless connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a subscriber identity module card for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the subscriber identity module card from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a wireless connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a subscriber identity module card for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the subscriber identity module card from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection-less communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connection-less communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mobile station according to claim 1, further comprising control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback of the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a wireless connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a subscriber identity module card for storing said tone data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the subscriber identity module card from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
139 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a wireless connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a subscriber identity module card for storing said tone data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the subscriber identity module card from the public land mobile network over the wireless connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless connection-less communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless connection-less communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 7, further comprising control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback of the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a wireless communications link from a mobile unit; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to a subscriber identity module card of the mobile unit through said wireless connection-less communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a wireless communications link from a mobile unit; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to a subscriber identity module card of the mobile unit through said wireless connection-less communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of playing an audio rendition of the tone data in response to receipt by the mobile unit of a call involving the selected telephone number.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mobile station according to claim 13, wherein the wireless communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mobile station claim 13, wherein the wireless communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 13, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 13, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mobile station according to claim 13, wherein said step of requesting access provides audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile station according to claim 13, wherein said step of requesting access provides a text selection of the tone data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
100 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a register for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a register for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile station according to claim 21, wherein the register comprises a subscriber identity module card attachable to the mobile station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 21, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 21, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mobile station according to claim 21, further comprising control control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback o the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
88 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a register for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the time data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
88 words
A mobile station, comprising: a receiver for receiving tone data over a connection-less communications link from a public land mobile network; a register for storing the tone data; and means for requesting downloading of the time data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile station according to claim 26, wherein the register comprises a subscriber identity module card attachable to the mobile station.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The mobile station according to claim 26, wherein the connection-less communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mobile station according to claim 26, wherein the connection-less communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mobile station according to claim 26, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mobile station according to claim 26, further comprising control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback of the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a register for storing said tone data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a register for storing said tone data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 32, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 32, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 32, further comprising control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback of the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a register for storing said time data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for downloading tone data to a mobile station, comprising: a public land mobile network serving said mobile station, said public land mobile network including a first application module responsive to a request from the mobile station for downloading said tone data to the mobile station via a connection-less communications link; and said mobile station comprising: a register for storing said time data; a receiver for receiving said tone data from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link; and means for requesting downloading of the tone data to the register from the public land mobile network over the connection-less communications link and for associating a telephone number with the tone data such that call connections involving the telephone number initiate audio playback of the tone data, wherein said telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 36, wherein the register comprises a subscriber identity module card attachable to the mobile station.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 36, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 36, wherein said connection-less communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 36, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 36, further comprising control logic for determining if an incoming call involves the telephone number and initiating audio playback of the tone data for incoming calls involving the telephone number.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a communications link from a mobile unit, said communications link comprising a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementing service data messages; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to the mobile unit through said communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a communications link from a mobile unit, said communications link comprising a link selected from the group consisting of short message service messages and unstructured supplementing service data messages; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to the mobile unit through said communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 42, further comprising the step of playing an audio rendition of the tone data in response to receipt by the mobile unit of a call involving the selected telephone number.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 42, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 42, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 42, wherein said step of requesting access provides audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 42, wherein said step of requesting access provides a text selection of the tone data.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a communications link from a mobile unit; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to the mobile unit through said communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number, said selected telephone number comprising a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for downloading tone data, comprising the steps of: accessing a public land mobile network using a communications link from a mobile unit; requesting access to tone data located within the public land mobile network from a client application within the mobile unit; downloading the requested tone data to the mobile unit through said communications link; and associating the downloaded tone data with a selected telephone number, said selected telephone number comprising a telephone number of a called party.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of playing an audio rendition of the tone data in response to receipt by the mobile unit of a call involving the selected telephone number.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 48, wherein said communications link comprises short message service messages.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 48, wherein said communications link comprises unstructured supplementary service data messages.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 48, wherein the telephone number comprises a telephone number of a calling party.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 48, wherein said step of requesting access provides audio playback of the tone data.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 48, wherein said step of requesting access provides a text selection of the tone data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |