DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to the field of mobile communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and methods for presenting and selecting Ring Back Tones corresponding to a selected relationship.
BACKGROUND
Ring Back Tone (RBT) services, now a day, have become an important value added service in the field of mobile communications. Despite the popularity of RBT services, a section of users do not subscribe to the available RBT services, as they do not want all their callers to listen to a single RBT.
The users also do not subscribe to available RBT services, as they are not able feel an emotional connect with the current RBT services where users can set dedicated RBT for close relations like Father, Mother, Spouse, Friends etc. Moreover, it is difficult and time consuming to explore and set dedicated custom ring back tones corresponding to particular relations. As a result, many users do not subscribe to RBT services.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Apart from overcoming the disadvantages discussed above, a primary object of the present invention is to increase the usage of RBT services by increasing the emotional connect of the RBT users with said RBT services. The said emotional connect is achieved by personalising said RBT services such that the users can select and set dedicated ring back tones for close relations like mother, father, siblings etc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an RBT service wherein it is easy to explore and set dedicated custom ring back tones corresponding to particular relations.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an RBT user with curated RBT content corresponding to close relations.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an intelligent system capable of prompting a user to select a relationship and RBT corresponding to the selected relationship.
Yet another object of the present invention is to analyse and prompt frequent callers of a subscriber, who are not already subscribers to RBT services, to subscribe for the RBT services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein, provides a system and method to configure a relationship RBT for close relations like mother, father, spouse, siblings etc.
According to one aspect of the invention, the system comprises a RBT provisioning entity and one or more mobile devices pertaining to a subscriber and/or a first participant.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity analyses calling/receiving patterns and logs for all the subscribers and/or first participant for a predetermined duration to determine the most frequent contacted numbers. The term subscriber herein stands for a user taking operator’s service. The subscriber may or may not have RBT subscription. The first participant includes any party making a call to the subscriber. The frequently contacted numbers includes the numbers on which the subscriber calls frequently and numbers from which the subscriber frequently receives a call. The predetermined duration to determine the most frequent contacted numbers may be on basis of filters including time of day like or days of the week time etc.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity detects a call involving the subscriber and a first participant and determines if number of said first participant is present in the list of frequently contacted numbers. If the number of the first participant is present in the list of frequently contacted numbers, the said RBT provisioning entity prompts/recommends a list of relations like father, mother, spouse etc. to said subscriber to determine a relationship of the subscriber with the first participant. On selection of the said relationship by the subscriber, the said subscriber is presented with a list of Ring Back Tones specific to the selected relationship. The subscriber selects a RBT from the presented list of Ring Back Tones and said selected RBT is provisioned against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity detects a call involving the subscriber and a first participant and determines if number of said first participant is present in the list of frequently contacted numbers. If the number of the first participant is present in the list of frequently contacted numbers, the said RBT provisioning entity prompts/recommends a list of relations like father, mother, spouse etc. to said participant to determine a relationship of the first participant with the subscriber. On selection of the said relationship by the first participant, the said first participant is presented with a list of Ring Back Tones specific to the selected relationship. The first participant selects a RBT from the presented list of Ring Back Tones for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity, may prompt the subscriber to gift a RBT to the first participant. The first participant is presented with a plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to a selected relationship. The first participant selects a ring back tone from the presented list of ring back tones and said ring back tone is provisioned by the ring back tone provisioning entity against the first participant for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant. The first participant may be presented with a list of possible relationships if the RBT provisioning entity is not able to determine the relationship of the subscriber with the first participant.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity, may present the first participant with a plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to the selected relationship by the subscriber. The first participant selects a RBT from the presented list of Ring Back Tones and said selected RBT is provisioned by the RBT provisioning entity for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity may send alert messages to the subscriber and/or the first participant to change the provisioned RBT. The said alerts may be sent after pre-determined number of days or pre-determined number of calls. The said RBT provisioning entity may also send targeted alerts to change the ring back tone of the subscriber or the first participant on specific occasions including festivals etc.
According to another aspect of the invention, atleast one possible relationship and plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to the selected relationship is presented to the said subscriber or the first participant by means including a text message, a push notification, email message, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), or Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
According to another aspect of the invention, the RBT provisioning entity comprise an analyser module, a call detecting module, a determining module, a communication module, a prompting module, a provisioning module, a transmitting module, a storage module, an alert module for configuring a RBT for a subscriber and/or first participant.
These and other aspects as well as advantages will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjugation with the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
To further clarify advantages and aspects of the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary method performed by a ring back tone (RBT) provisioning entity for provisioning a custom RBT for the subscriber, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 2 further illustrates the method 100 performed by a RBT provisioning entity to provision a RBT gifted from the subscriber to a first participant, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 3 further illustrates the method 100 performed by a RBT provisioning entity to provision a RBT for the first participant corresponding to a relationship selected by the subscriber, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates a RBT provisioning entity for configuring a RBT, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 5 illustrates a method performed by a mobile device pertaining to a subscriber or a first participant for configuring a RBT, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 6 illustrates RBT selection via standard Interactive Voice Response (IVR), in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
Figure 7 illustrates RBT selection via an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals have been used to represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary method 100 performed by a custom RBT provisioning entity for provisioning a RBT for the subscriber, in accordance with an embodiment of present invention.
At step 101, the method 100 comprises analysing, by an analyser module, call history of a subscriber and/or first participant for a configurable pre-determined amount of time to derive a set of frequently contacted numbers. The term frequently contacted numbers includes the numbers on which the subscriber calls frequently and the numbers from which the subscriber frequently receives calls. The term subscriber herein stands for a user taking operator’s service. The subscriber may or may not have RBT subscription. The first participant includes any party making a call to the subscriber.
At step 102, the method 100 comprises detecting, by a call-detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and a first participant.
At step 103, the method 100 comprises determining, by a determining module, whether a number of said first participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers derived at step 101.
At step 104, the method 100 comprises determining, by a determining module, satisfaction of atleast one criterion in case the number of the first participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers. The said atleast one criterion includes determining if an RBT corresponding to a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant is already provisioned by the subscriber. The said criterion is satisfied if no RBT corresponding to a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant is already provisioned by the subscriber. On satisfaction of said criteria, said method moves to step 105, else the method moves to step ¬¬¬120.
At step 105, the method comprises invoking, by a communication module, a secondary communication process upon termination of a call between the subscriber and the first participant. During the secondary communication process at step 106, the method comprises presenting to the subscriber or the first participant, by the communication module, atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant. The method at step 106 further comprises prompting the subscriber or the first participant to select a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant.
At step 107, the method comprises selecting and presenting, by a selection module, a plurality of Ring Back Tones pertaining to the selected relationship at step 106.
At step 108, the method comprises prompting said subscriber or the first participant, by a prompting module, to select one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones to provision as a relationship RBT for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 109 comprises receiving, by a provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones by the subscriber or the first participant. At step 110, the method 100 comprises provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected RBT against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 111 comprises detecting, by a call-detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and the first participant. At step 112, the method comprises transmitting, by a transmitting module, an alert message to the first participant indicating the playing of the provisioned RBT of the subscriber.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the step of sending alerts to the subscriber, by an alert module to change the provisioned RBT against the subscriber. The alerts may be sent after a predetermined number of days and/or predetermined number of calls. Targeted alerts may also be sent to change the RBT of the subscriber on specific occasions such as festivals etc.
In a further embodiment, the RBT subscriber may also unsubscribe the provisioned ring back tones in accordance with the method already known in the art and implemented in the present invention.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises analysing the frequently contacted numbers based on the filters including time of day such as 6 AM-9 PM or 9AM to 6PM or days of week such as weekends or holidays or specific occasions. For example, the incoming calls for the subscriber can be analysed for the whole day or can be analysed for specific time slots on specific days. An administrator can choose any time slot by providing the starting time and the ending time and any days of the week.
In a further embodiment, the method after the analysis of call history of the subscriber may determine and store a configured count of callers who either frequently calls the subscriber or are frequently contacted by the subscriber. For example 5 or 10 most frequent callers may be selected and prioritized depending on the frequency of the calls
In a further embodiment, for each of the identified frequent callers, concerned subscriber shall be sent a RBT prompt/trigger maximum up to configured number of times.
In a further embodiment, for each of the identified frequent callers, concerned subscriber shall be sent another prompt/trigger only after a gap of minimum configured days from previous prompt/trigger.
In a further embodiment, if a Relationship RBT prompt/trigger for an identified frequent caller to concerned subscriber has been sent for up to maximum configured number, the said frequent caller is filtered out from all future lists of frequent callers for the concerned subscriber. As a result, subscriber shall never get any further relationship RBT prompt/trigger for said frequent caller.
In a further embodiment, the method shall re-analyze all incoming calls for a subscriber at every configured interval. The previous frequent callers list shall be updated with new frequent caller list after filtering out callers for whom number of prompts/triggers has already reached a maximum number of trigger value. The method further comprises resetting/cleaning up filtered out callers for Relationship RBT prompts/triggers. After this reset, callers shall be included in frequent callers list for a subscriber.
In a further embodiment, after incoming calls analysis is done and frequent callers are identified for all subscribers, the method comprises the step of mapping caller of each incoming call with frequent callers list of each subscriber.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises invoking said secondary communication process after a configurable delay from successful call connection between the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises waiting for the call to end before invoking said secondary communication process. The ring back tone provisioning entity shall depend on operator’s node/interface to get the event for end of call.
Figure 2 further illustrates method 100 performed by the RBT provisioning entity to provision a RBT gifted from the subscriber to a first participant.
At step 113, the method comprises prompting the subscriber, by the prompting module, to gift a RBT to the first participant. At step 114, the method comprises receiving, by the communication module, a confirmation to gift RBT to the first participant. At step 116, the method comprises presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, a plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to the selected relationship.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 115 comprises presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, atleast one possible relationship if no relationship is selected by the first participant. Such a case can arise when although a relationship has been selected for the first participant by the subscriber, the RBT provisioning entity is not able to determine the relationship of subscriber with the first participant. For example, if the relationship selected by the subscriber for the first participant is sister, it is not clear whether the subscriber is a brother or sister to the first participant. In such cases, if a relationship has not already been selected by the first participant, the system may prompt the first participant to select the relationship of subscriber with the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 117 comprises receiving, by the provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones by the first participant. At step 118, the method comprises provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected RBT against the first participant for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises detecting, by the call-detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and the first participant. The method further comprises transmitting, by the transmitting module, an alert message to the subscriber indicating the playing of the provisioned RBT of the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises prompting the subscriber, to gift a RBT to the first participant after a ring back tone has been provisioned for said subscriber.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the step of sending alerts to the first participant, by an alert module to change the provisioned RBT. The alerts may be sent after a predetermined number of days and/or predetermined number of calls. Targeted alerts may also be sent to change the RBT of the first participant on specific occasions.
Figure 3 further illustrates the method 100 performed by the RBT provisioning entity to provision a RBT for the first participant corresponding to a relationship selected by the subscriber.
At step 119, the method comprises presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, a plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to relationship selected by the subscriber.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 120 comprises receiving, by the provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones by the first participant. At step 121, the method comprises provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected RBT against the first participant for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method at step 122 comprises detecting, by the call-detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and the first participant. The method further comprises the step 123 transmitting, by the transmitting module, an alert message to the subscriber indicating the playing of the provisioned RBT of the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises presenting to the first participant a plurality of Ring Back Tones corresponding to relationship selected by the subscriber after a ring back tone has been provisioned for said subscriber.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises the step of sending alerts to the first participant, by an alert module to change the provisioned ring back tone. The alerts may be sent after a predetermined number of days and/or predetermined number of calls. Targeted alerts may also be sent to change the ring back tone of the first participant on specific occasions.
Figure 4 illustrates a RBT provisioning entity 400 for configuring a RBT, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The RBT provisioning entity is a server comprising one or more physical and/or logical devices that collectively provide the functionalities described herein. In some embodiments, the RBT provisioning entity 400 may comprise one or more replicated and/or distributed physical or logical devices.
The said RBT provisioning entity 400 comprises an analyser module 410, a call detecting module 420, a determining module 430, a communication module 440, a selection module 450, a prompting module 460 and a provisioning module 470.
The analyser module 410 is configured to analyse call history of a subscriber for a predetermined amount of time to derive a set of frequently contacted numbers. The term frequently contacted numbers includes the numbers on which the subscriber calls frequently and numbers from which the subscriber frequently receives calls.
The call-detecting module 420 is configured to detect a call involving the subscriber and a first participant.
The determining module 430 is configured to determine whether a number of the first participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers and to determine satisfaction of atleast one criterion in case the number of the participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers. The said atleast one criterion includes determining if an RBT corresponding to a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant is already provisioned by the subscriber. The said criteria is satisfied if no RBT corresponding to a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant is already provisioned by the subscriber.
The communication module 440, on satisfaction of the criteria, is configured to invoke a secondary communication process wherein the subscriber or the first participant is presented with atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant.
The selection module 450, after selection of relationship, is configured to select and present a plurality of Ring Back Tones that pertains to a group corresponding to the selected relationship.
The prompting module 460 is configured to prompt the subscriber or the first participant to select relationship between the subscriber and the first participant. The prompting module is further configured to prompt said subscriber or the first participant to select one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones to provision as a relationship RBT for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
The provisioning module 470 is configured to receive an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of Ring Back Tones by the subscriber and/or the first participant. The provisioning module 470 is further configured to provision selected RBT of the subscriber and/or the first participant for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the RBT provisioning entity further comprises a transmitting module 480. The said transmitting module 480 is configured to transmit an alert message to the subscriber or first participant indicating the playing of the selected RBT.
In a further embodiment, the RBT provisioning entity further comprises an alert module 490. The alert module 490 is configured to send alert messages to change the provisioned Ring Back Tone of the subscriber or the first participant. The alerts may be sent after a predetermined number of days and/or predetermined number of calls. Targeted alerts may also be sent to change the RBT of the subscriber or the first participant on specific occasions.
In a further embodiment, the RBT provisioning entity may store, by a storing module, details including numbers of the subscriber and the first participant, relationship between the subscriber and the first participant and RBT provisioned against the subscriber and the first participant for future purposes.
In a further embodiment, the communication module 440 is further configured to receive a confirmation from the subscriber to gift a RBT to the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the communication module 440 is further configured to present a plurality of Ring Back Tones to the first participant corresponding to the relationship selected by the subscriber.
Figure 5 illustrates a method performed by a mobile device pertaining to a subscriber or a first participant for configuring a RBT, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The said mobile device pertains to mobile device of the subscriber or the first participant.
At step 501, the method comprises receiving, upon termination of call involving the subscriber and the first participant, a secondary communication process.
At step 502, the method comprises receiving atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant during the secondary communication process.
At step 503, the method comprises receiving a plurality of Ring Back Tones that pertains to a group corresponding to the selected relationship.
At step 504, the method comprises sending an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of Ring-Back Tones.
In a further embodiment, the said secondary communication process may include a greeting message or a prompt to subscribe to the first participant for subscribing to the RBT services.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving alerts to change the provisioned Ring Back Tones.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving a communication, by the mobile device pertaining to the subscriber, to gift a RBT to the first participant.
In a further embodiment, atleast one possible relationship, plurality of Ring Back Tones, alert messages and communications pertaining to gifting ringtones are presented to the subscriber or the first participant by means including text message, a push notification, email message, USSD or interactive voice response (IVR).
Figure 6 illustrates RBT selection via standard Interactive Voice Response (IVR) in accordance with an embodiment of present invention. The subscriber shall have an option in standard IVR to browse relation wise RBT content and set a RBT corresponding to a selected relationship.
The said IVR offers various relationship categories to the subscriber. The relevant relationship is selected by pressing a number corresponding to said relationship. After the selection of a relationship by the subscriber, said IVR plays various Ring Back Tones corresponding to the selected relationship. The subscriber may select an RBT by pressing a number corresponding to said RBT. On selection of said RBT, the said RBT is provisioned against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the subscriber may be prompted to enter the mobile number of a first participant for whom the subscriber wishes to set a RBT. On entering the number of the first participant, the selected RBT is provisioned against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, specific pricing for provisioning of RBT for the subscriber and may be mentioned in the IVR flow.
In a further embodiment, the subscriber may be able to dial a specific IVR access code to go through IVR flow specially provided for browsing and subscribing to RBT corresponding to a selected relationship.
In a further embodiment, the IVR flow for selection of RBT corresponding to a selected relationship may be available as a part of an available IVR flow or a separate multi-modal IVR.
In a further embodiment, sequences and inclusion/exclusion of relationship and ring back tones corresponding to the selected relationship in the IVR flow shall be customizable by an administrator.
In a further embodiment, if the subscriber already has a relationship RBT set for the first participant, on selection of a new relationship during the IVR flow, the current relationship RBT shall be replaced by the new relationship RBT.
Figure 7 illustrates RBT selection via an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) in accordance with an embodiment of present invention. The subscriber shall have an option in standard USSD to browse relation wise RBT content and set a RBT corresponding to a selected relationship.
The said USSD offers various relationship categories to the subscriber by pushing a message to the subscriber. The relevant relationship is selected by pressing a number corresponding to said relationship. After the selection of a relationship by the subscriber, said USSD further pushes a message comprising various Ring Back Tones corresponding to the selected relationship. The subscriber may select an RBT by pressing a number corresponding to said RBT. On selection of said RBT, said RBT is provisioned against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the subscriber may be prompted to enter the mobile number of a first participant for whom the subscriber wishes to set a RBT. On entering the number of the first participant, the selected RBT is provisioned against the subscriber for future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.
In a further embodiment, the method comprises providing configurable option to send and manage SMS messages.
In a further embodiment, specific pricing for provisioning of RBT for the subscriber and/or the first participant shall be mentioned in the USSD flow.
In a further embodiment, the subscriber shall be able to dial a specific USSD access code to go through USSD flow specially provided for browsing and subscribing to Ring Back Tones corresponding to a relationship.
In a further embodiment, the USSD flow for selection of RBT corresponding to a selected relationship shall be available as a part of an available or known USSD flow or a separate multi-modal USSD.
In a further embodiment, sequences and inclusion/exclusion of relationship and ring back tones corresponding to the selected relationship in the USSD flow shall be customizable by an administrator.
In a further embodiment, if the subscriber already has a relationship RBT set for the first participant, on selecting a new relationship during the USSD flow, the current relationship RBT shall be replaced by the new relationship RBT.
While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method performed by a ring back tone (RBT) provisioning entity for configuring a custom ring back tone , the method comprising:
analysing, by an analyser module, call history of a subscriber and/or first participant for a predetermined amount of time to derive a set of frequently contacted numbers;
detecting , by a call detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and a first participant;
determining, by a determining module, whether a number of the first participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers;
determining , by the determining module, satisfaction of atleast one criterion , in case the number of the participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers;
if said at least one criterion is satisfied , invoking by a communication module , upon termination of the call, a secondary communication process involving the subscriber or the first participant;
during the secondary communication process, presenting to the subscriber or the first participant, by the communication module, atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant and prompting the subscriber or the first participant to select a relationship;
selecting and presenting, by a selection module, a plurality of ring back tones that pertains to a group corresponding to the selected relationship; and
prompting said subscriber or the first participant, by a prompting module, to select one of said plurality of ring back tones to provision as a custom ring back tone for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of :
receiving, by a provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of ring back tones by the subscriber or the first participant; and
provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected ring back tone against the subscriber for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of :
detecting, by the call detecting module, a call involving the subscriber and a first participant; and
transmitting , by a transmitting module, an alert message to the first participant indicating the playing of the provisioned ring-back tone.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of:
prompting the subscriber, by the prompting module, to gift a ring back tone to the first participant;
receiving, by the communication module, a confirmation to gift the ring back tone to the first participant; and
presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, a plurality of ring back tones corresponding to the selected relationship.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, atleast one possible relationship if no relationship is selected by the first participant;

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:
receiving, by the provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of ring back tones by the first participant; and
provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected ring back tone against the first participant for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of presenting to the first participant, by the communication module, a plurality of ring back tones corresponding to the relationship selected by the subscriber.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:
receiving, by the provisioning module, an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of ring back tones by the first participant; and
provisioning, by the provisioning module, the selected ring back tone against the first participant for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

9. The method of claim 2, 6 and 8 further comprising the step of sending alerts to the subscriber or the first participant, by an alert module, to change the provisioned ring back tone.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said alerts are sent after pre-determined number of days and/or pre-determined number of calls.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said alert module can send targeted alerts to change the ring back tone of the subscriber or the first participant on specific occasions.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said criterion is satisfied if no ring back tone corresponding to a relationship between the subscriber and the first participant is provisioned by the subscriber.

13. The method of claim 1-12 wherein atleast one possible relationship, plurality of ring back tones, alert messages and communications pertaining to gifting ringtones are presented to the subscriber or the first participant by means including text message, a push notification, email message or interactive voice response (IVR).

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of time to analyse call history of subscriber may be calculated on basis of filters including time of the day, days of the week.

15. The method of claim 1wherein ring back tones presented to the subscriber or participant are audio or video ring back tones.

16. A ring-back tone (RBT) provisioning entity (400) for configuring a custom ring back tone , said entity comprising:
an analyser module (410) to analyse call history of a subscriber for a predetermined amount of time to derive a set of frequently contacted numbers;
a call detecting module (420) to detect a call involving the subscriber and a first participant;
a determining module (430) to determine whether a number of the first participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers and to determine satisfaction of atleast one criterion in case the number of the participant is present in the set of frequently contacted numbers;
a communication module (440) presenting to the subscriber or the first participant atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant, and prompting the subscriber or the first participant to select a relationship;
a selection module (450) to select and present a plurality of ring back tones that pertains to a group corresponding to the selected relationship; and
a prompting module (460) to prompt said subscriber or the first participant to select one of said plurality of ring back tones to provision as a custom ring back tone for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

17. A ring-back tone provisioning entity as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a provisioning module (470) configured to:
receive an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of ring back tones by the subscriber and/or the first participant; and
provision selected ring back tone of the subscriber and/or the first participant for the future calls involving the subscriber and the first participant.

18. A ring-back tone provisioning entity as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a transmitting module (480) configured to transmit an alert message to the subscriber and/or first participant indicating the playing of the selected ring-back tone.

19. A ring-back tone provisioning entity as claimed in claim 16 further comprising an alert module (490) configured to send alert messages to change the provisioned ring back tones of the subscriber or the first participant.

20. A ring-back tone provisioning entity as claimed in claim 16 wherein the communication module is further configured to receive a confirmation from the subscriber to gift a ring back tone to the first participant.

21. A method performed by a mobile device for configuring a custom ring back tone, the mobile device pertaining to a subscriber or a first participant, said method comprising:
receiving , upon termination of a call, a secondary communication process;
receiving atleast one possible relationship between the subscriber and the first participant during the secondary communication process;
receiving a plurality of ring back tones that pertains to a group corresponding to the selected relationship; and
sending an indication indicating selection of one of said plurality of ring-back tones.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising the step of receiving alerts to change the provisioned ring back tones.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising the step of receiving a communication, by the mobile device pertaining to the subscriber, to gift a ring back tone to the first participant.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21-23 wherein atleast one possible relationship, plurality of ring back tones, alert messages and communications pertaining to gifting ringtones are presented to the subscriber or the first participant by means including text message, a push notification, email message or interactive voice response (IVR).