WO2008144353A1

WO2008144353A1 - Technique for providing caller-originated alert signals

Info

Publication number: WO2008144353A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/063636
Authority: WO
Inventors: L. Scott Bloebaum; Charles Liu
Original assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab
Priority date: 2007-05-15
Filing date: 2008-05-15
Publication date: 2008-11-27

Abstract

A technique for providing customized, caller-originated alert signals is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for providing caller- originated alert signals. The method may comprise the steps of: creating (2503), by a first user associated with a first user equipment (UE A), an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment (UE B); requesting (2506), by the first user equipment (UE A), a communication session with the second user equipment (UE B); and causing the alert signal to be transmitted (2508), via a phonepage server (D), to the second user equipment (UE B) for rendering (2510) thereon to alert the second user of the communication session.

Description

TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING CALLER-ORIGINATED ALERT SIGNALS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/917,990, filed May 15, 2007, and U.S. Patent Application No. 1 1/761 ,567, filed June 12, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for exchanging information in a communication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a technique for providing caller-originated alert signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the convergence of voice and data communication networks, portable communication devices are increasingly likely to support several communication modes, as well as a number of communication-related applications. Single-purpose cellular phones and alphanumeric pagers have given way to complex mobile devices supporting voice communications, e-mail, and instant messaging. A typical device often includes a camera, a music player, and sound recorder, and may include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Many of these devices and their supporting wireless networks now enable simultaneous use of multiple communication modes. Thus, a device user today might engage in a voice call and simultaneously send or receive text messages, digital images, video clips, or the like.

A few applications have been developed to take advantage of this simultaneous availability of multiple communications modes. In particular, several patents and patent application publications describe a so-called Phone Pages system, in which the generation and transfer of multimedia data objects is triggered by various communication-related events. These data objects, or Phone Pages, thus supplement a primary communication session, such as a voice call, an e-mail exchange, or an instant message conversation. The Phone Pages concept is described in the following patents and patent application publications, the contents of which are each incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Patent No. 6,922,721 , titled "Exchange of Information in a Communication System" and issued on July 26, 2005 to Minborg et al.; U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0271041 A1 , titled "Exchange of Information in a Communication System" and filed on June 1 , 2005 by Minborg et al.; U.S. Patent No. 6,996,072, titled "Method and Apparatus for Exchange of Information in a Communication Network" and issued on February 7, 2006 to Minborg; U.S. Patent No. 6,977,909, titled "System and Method for Exchange of Information in a Communication Network" and issued on December 20, 2005 to Minborg; and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0114845, also titled "System and Method for Exchange of Information in a Communication network" and filed on November 14, 2005 by Minborg.

The communication techniques and systems described in the preceding references provide a variety of enhancements to conventional modes of communication, facilitating the convenient exchange of various data objects between users of communications devices. These enhancements may be quite valuable both for promoting personal relationships and for supporting business and enterprise communications. However, if unrestrained, the increased flow of data objects may be overwhelming, both for system users and for the system itself.

Applicants have identified that there is a problem in the present way of accessing the Internet for specific data objects because of the non-obvious way of addressing data objects.

There is further a need in the telecommunications industry to provide a simpler way of accessing the Internet and to guide a user by other means than a modem number to call, from where the user is left on her own to be further guided to the desired homepage or data object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the above identified deficiencies of identifying and finding a data object and navigating between a set of data objects by applying a novel connection between a data-communications network and a telecommunications network.

In one aspect of the present invention a technique for connecting a dialed B-party number to a data object is described. A data object can for example be graphical, text, sound, voice, animations, static or dynamic pictures, or any combination. The connecting of a B-party number to a specific data object, hereafter referred to as phonepage, will allow an A-party direct access to information that a B-party wishes to display to a calling party. The phonepage resides in a memory in a telecommunications network, or in a memory in a data-communications network connected thereto. The phonepage may have a similar appearance to an Internet web page, but may also take other appearances. The displaying of the phonepage may be made dependent upon the capabilities of the A-party user equipment.

Dependent on the type of equipment used by the A-party, the node storing the phonepages may, upon detection of type of equipment, select the most advantageous way of displaying a selected data object.

Also, dependent on the A-party user equipment, the phonepage may provide different levels of interaction possibilities, i.e., only display information, or be a fully interactive data object with a duplex communication between the A-party and the node housing the memory in which the phonepage is stored. The phonepages may be configured to be displayed automatically or by indication from the A-party. In a variant of the invention also a B-party has the same capabilities of obtaining phonepages upon reception of an A-number in conjunction with an incoming call. In another aspect of the present invention, a node in a data-communication or telecommunication system is described. The node consists of at least a database memory including at least indications of the phonepages and upon access from a remote request, respond with said indication. The transfer of the indication to a calling A-party may be dependent on type of connection and access technology used in the connection. For example in a connection where both circuit switched and packet switched communication is simultaneously possible, the indication may be transferred on a packet switched communication resource and, e.g., voice communication may be initiated on the circuit switched communication resource. In other types of connections, two data flows may be set-up on one or several simultaneous packet switched communication resources, e.g., speech and data transfer. Another example is when voice communication is initiated over a circuit switched communication resource and the phonepage indications are transferred over a packet switched channel with limited performance such as an SMS channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more thoroughly described and features and advantages will become readily apparent by reading the following detailed description, where references will be made to the accompanying figures, where: Figure 1 illustrates an overview of a communication network according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for providing caller- originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for providing caller- originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a block diagram illustrating exemplary user equipment for requesting and/or receiving caller-originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is described below in reference to a wireless telecommunications system providing voice and data services to a mobile device. Various systems providing voice and data services have been deployed, such as GSM networks (providing circuit-switched communications) and GPRS (providing packet-switched communications); still others are currently under development. These systems may employ any or several of a number of wireless access technologies, such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Time Division Duplex (TDD), and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD). The present invention is not limited to any specific type of wireless communications network or access technology. Indeed, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the network configurations discussed herein are only illustrative. The inventive techniques disclosed herein may be applied to "wired" devices accessing conventional voice or data networks, as well as wireless devices. The invention may be practiced with devices accessing voice and/or data networks via wireless local area networks (WLANs) or via one or more of the emerging wide-area wireless data networks, such as those under development by the 3^rd- Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary communications system in which the present invention may be employed. Communications device 100 communicates with other devices through base station 1 10, which is connected to wireless network 120. Wireless network 120 is in turn connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 125 and the Internet 130. Wireless device 100 can thus communicate with various other devices, such as wireless device 135, conventional land-line telephone 140, or personal computer 145. In Figure 1 , wireless device 100 also has access to data server 150 via the Internet 130; data server 150 may be configured to provide access through Internet 130 to data or applications stored in storage device 160. Storage device 160 may comprise one or more of a variety of data storage devices, such as disk drives connected to data server 150 or one or more other servers, a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) system, or the like. Communications device 100 may be a cordless telephone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), communicator, computer device, or the like, and may be compatible with any of a variety of communications standards, such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or one or more of the standards promulgated by 3GPP. Communications device 100 may include a digital camera, for still and video images, as well as a digital sound recorder and digital music player application. Communications device 100 may also support various applications in addition to voice communications, such as e-mail, text messaging, picture messaging, instant messaging, video conferencing, web browsing, and the like.

Communications device 100 also includes a wireless local-area network (WLAN) transceiver configured for communication with WLAN access point 170. WLAN access point 170 is also connected to Internet 130, providing communications device 100 with alternative connectivity to Internet-based resources such as data server 150.

Also connected to wireless network 120 is location server 180. Location server 180 is typically maintained by the operator of wireless network 120, but may be separately administered. The main function of location server 180 is to determine the geographic location of mobile terminals (such as mobile terminal 100) using the wireless network 120. Location information obtained by location server 180 may range from information identifying the cell currently serving mobile terminal 100 to more precise location information obtained using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Other technologies, including triangulation methods exploiting signals transmitted from or received at several base stations, may also be used to obtain location information. Triangulation techniques may include Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) technology, which utilizes measurements of a mobile's uplink signal at several base stations, or Enhanced- Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) technology, which utilizes measurements taken at the mobile terminal 100 of signals sent from several base stations. GPS-based technologies may include Assisted-GPS, which utilizes information about the current status of the GPS satellites derived independently of the mobile terminal 100 to aid in the determination of the terminal's location.

In some embodiments, the various systems and methods described herein facilitate the selective delivery of data objects to a communication device, such as mobile terminal 125, in communication with another device, such as mobile terminal 100. The data object may be transferred from one device to the other, e.g., from mobile terminal 100 to mobile terminal 125, or from a data object server, such as server 150 or server 180, in response to a request from either of the communication devices.

Typically, the users of the communication devices are engaged in a communication session, which may comprise a voice call (whether circuit-switched or packet-switched), an instant message (IM) session, or any other modes of communication such as those described herein or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, one or both of the communication devices may include a module or application that is able to determine the occurrence of a communications-related trigger event in the communication device and to thereafter transmit and/or receive data, such as data specifically related to the trigger event. The trigger event may comprise, for example, any of the following events or combinations thereof:

• the establishment of a session or call between the devices;

• the arrival or departure of a device in a multi-party communication session;

• activation by the user of one or both of the communication devices (e.g., an explicit request by one user for transfer of a data object to the other); • timer-based periodic or random trigger event in communication device;

• crossing a geographic boundary, such as a boundary established by the user of one of the communication devices; or

• other events related to the communication, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 6,996,072. Other trigger events might include, but are not limited to:

• An outgoing call is or is about to be initiated.

• A called party answers a call.

• A called party is busy. • A called party does not answer after a pre-determined time or number of rings.

• A called party rejects a call.

• A called party is unavailable (e.g., an addressed mobile phone is out of coverage).

• An incoming call is imminent or has just started. • A conference call is or is about to be initiated.

• A call is disconnected.

• A call is conducted (under which several triggering events can be generated).

• A party is placed on hold.

• The location of a party has changed. • A communication device is switched on or off.

• A special-function button is pressed on a communication device.

• A button or other user interface device is activated in response to a query.

• A voice mail, text message, e-mail, instant message, or the like is received.

• A voice mail, text message, e-mail, instant message, or the like is received. While many of the preceding trigger events are related to traditional voice communications, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many analogous trigger events will apply to other communication modes, such as instant messaging, e-mail, video conferencing, "chat" sessions, and so on.

According to one aspect of the present invention, while a first user equipment (UE) such as a mobile device or stationary device is attempting to establish a communication session (e.g., a voice call session or an instant messaging session) with a second UE, the first UE may cause a customized alert signal to be sent to the second UE, prior to the establishment of the communication session, to alert the user of the second UE of the upcoming communication session. Specifically, upon selection of the second UE for communication, the first UE may cause a customized alert signal (either freshly recorded or pre-recorded) to be transmitted to (or identified for) a PhonePage server. This customized alert signal may be referred to generally as "a caller-originated alert" or "a caller-originated alert signal," wherein the word "caller" refers to a party who initiates a communication session but is not limited to voice calls. The caller- originated alert signal may then be transmitted to or downloaded by the second UE. The second UE may render the caller-originated alert signal to alert its user of the communication session.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system 2400 for providing caller-originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system 2400 may comprise a first user equipment A (UE A), a second user equipment B (UE B), a communication server C, and a PhonePage server D.

The UE A may be a mobile telephone or a mobile telephone connected to any kind of data equipment, e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) devices or laptop computer. The UE A may also be a fixed non-mobile device such as a desktop computer, a gaming device, an IP telephone, or other devices which can initiate and receive communications. The UE A is capable of communicating with other user equipment such as UE B in a variety of ways. For example, UE A may establish a voice call, such as a circuit call or a Voice-over-IP (VOIP) call, with UE B. UE A may also establish a wireless "walkie-talkie" session based on the push-to-talk (PTT) technology. UE A may alternatively establish a data or multimedia communication session (e.g., email, instant messaging, online meeting, document sharing, and file transfers) with UE B. UE B may typically have comparable or at least compatible functionalities in order to communicate with UE A. Both UE A and UE B may be configured to communicate with the PhonePage server D.

The PhonePage server D may comprise a PhonePages number server (PNS) and/or PhonePage web server (PWS). The PhonePage server D may communicate with UE A via one or more logical channels, typically to receive requests from UE A and to fulfill those requests according to an established messaging or signaling protocol. The communication server C may be any type of communication equipment that hosts communication sessions among two or more user equipment. The communication session between UE A and UE B may be carried on either a packet-switched network or a circuit- switched network or a combination thereof. For example, the communication session may be a VoIP call that traverses an IP-based network (e.g., the Internet). Or, the communication session may be a voice call that is partially carried on an IP-based network and partially carried on a telephone (land-line and/or wireless) network. The communication server C may be a proxy server or a telecommunication switch.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first user who is associated with UE A, i.e., User A, may attempt to initiate a communication session with a second user who is associated with UE B, i.e., User B. Prior to establishment of the communication session, User A may select User B either from a locally-stored or online phonebook or buddy list or by directly entering an identifier of User B or UE B. In conjunction with the selection, User A may create or select a caller-originated alert signal that will be used to alert User B of the upcoming communication session. For example, User A may record a personalized voice message or ring-tone (i.e., caller-originated alert) or select a pre-recorded, caller-originated alert that is stored locally or online.

Then, UE A may transmit session initiation information to the communication server C to be relayed to UE B. The session initiation information may include or be accompanied by additional information to notify UE B of the incoming caller-originated alert. At substantially the same time, UE A may transmit the freshly recorded or pre-recorded caller-originated alert to the PhonePage server D. Alternatively, UE A may identify for the PhonePage server D an online- stored, pre-recorded caller-originated alert so that the PhonePage server D may retrieve it or otherwise make it available. In either case, UE A may cause the PhonePage server D to provide the caller-originated alert to UE B prior to the establishment of the communication session.

The provision of the caller-originated alert may be through either a "push" or a "pull" operation via a logical channel established between the PhonePage server D and UE B. In a push operation, the PhonePage server D may forward the caller-originated alert to UE B without waiting for any request from UE B. In the pull operation, UE B may request and then download the caller-originated alert upon receiving notification of the upcoming communication session. Once UE B receives the caller-originated alert, UE B may render it to alert the second user that a communication session with the first user is pending. For example, the caller-originated alert from User A (named Mary) may call out to User A (named Joe) - "Hey Joe, pick up the phone! This is Mary calling."

Figure 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for providing caller- originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 2502, User A (UE A) may select User B (UE B) for communication. The attempted communication session may be any type of voice, data, multimedia sessions, or a combination thereof. For illustration purposes, UE A and UE B will be described hereinafter as mobile telephone devices although they may be any type of user equipment as described above. To select User B for communication, User A may simply choose User B from a list of contacts or enter a mobile phone number associated with User B. In connection with the selection of User B, User A may also record a personalized voice message to be used to alert User B. Through some designated key action(s) on UE A, User A may indicate whether the attempted communication session will be in a conventional alert mode (i.e., without any caller-originated alert) or a caller-originated alert mode. For example, User A may depress one or more assigned keys to indicate a caller-originated alert mode. Alternatively, User A may simply press the same "call" button as in a conventional alert mode; only the button will be depressed for a longer duration to indicate a caller-originated alert mode. In addition, by pressing and holding the key assigned for call mode, User A may speak into UE A to record a brief voice message, such as "This is 'User A,' I need to speak with you right now about an emergency situation." Here, in contrast to a push-to-talk or push-to-show operation, User A performs an operation that is more similar to a push-to-alert or ring-with-voice operation. User A may be prompted to begin speaking by an audible signal (e.g., a beep), a visible signal (e.g., a flash), or a tactile signal (e.g., vibration). Upon releasing the key, User A may be prompted to approve the recorded message before UE A proceeds with the call, or UE A may proceed immediately. According another embodiment, the calling mode may be automatically determined according to User A's preferences. For example, UE A may automatically decide whether to use the caller-originated alert mode based on the identity of the party called (i.e., User B). According to an alternative embodiment, the personalized voice message need not be freshly recorded. That is, it may be a pre-recorded caller-originated alert that is stored either locally in UE A or stored remotely on a PhonePage server or the like. In step 2504, User A may simply identify a pre-recorded voice message to be used to alert User B. The identity of the pre-recorded voice message may be sent either to a PhonePage server for a "push" operation or to UE B for a "pull" operation. Selection of a pre-recorded voice message may be done automatically based on one or more factors specified according to user preference. Typical factors for selecting a caller-originated alert may include but are not limited to: the identity of User B, the proximity of User B to User A, the type/context of the attempted communication session, time of day, and other specific triggering events that may trigger a phonepage request as described above.

In step 2506, UE A may now initiate the communication session with UE B. Depending on the type of communication as well as the specific network or application used, UE A may follow the relevant protocol to send, for example, a session request through the communication medium between UE A and UE B. The session request may include additional information regarding the personalized voice message that is intended for User B. For example, UE B may be notified of the incoming voice message or may be instructed to download the voice message. The communication session is not limited to a one-to-one type of communication, but may be part of a multiple-party communication (e.g., a conference call or an online meeting). That is, either or both of UE A and UE B may simultaneously communicate with other parties.

At substantially the same time, UE A may be in communication with a PhonePage server over a logical channel. By communicating with the PhonePage server, UE A may cause the personalized voice message to be provided to UE B in step 2508. UE A may transmit (upload) the freshly recorded or pre-recorded voice message to the PhonePage server. Alternatively, UE A may identify for the PhonePage server a pre-recorded voice message that has been stored on the PhonePage server or in a related database. Or, UE A may instruct the PhonePage server to select a pre-recorded voice message based on one or more factors. The PhonePage server may then provide the personalized voice message to UE B over a logical channel. In step 2510, the personalized voice message may be rendered on UE B. Prior to establishment of the communication session with UE A, UE B may play back the personalized voice message to alert User B of the pending communication session with User A. How UE B handles the session notification and the related caller-originated alerts may have already been configured, and the pre-configured rules or preferences may be automatically executed without prompting User B for a selection. For example, UE B may establish default rules for handling incoming calls accompanied by caller-originated alert signals, and the default rules may either be globally applicable to all users or vary according to specific callers. Typically, caller- originated alert may be treated by UE B like any other alert signal or ring-tone. For example, the caller-originated alert may be muted when User B is in an environment where quietness is necessary.

Figure 4 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary user equipment 2600 for requesting and/or receiving caller-originated alert signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The UE 2600 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 2650, at least one memory unit 2651 , at least one display 2620, a keyboard device or area 2652, a radio unit 2610, an antenna 261 1 , an earphone 2630, a microphone 2640.

The UE 2600 may further comprise a plurality of programs 2670, including, for example, a browser 2671 that can render at least one type of data object (e.g., caller-originated alerts) and an encode/decode unit 2672 that encodes (or encrypts) requests for data objects and decodes (or decrypts) data objects. In addition, in order to implement the provision of caller- originated alert signals, the UE 2600 may also comprise a caller-originated alert management application 2673 (Voice_Alert_Manage), an application for requesting caller-originated alert 2674 (Voice_Alert_Request), and a caller-originated alert preference module 2675. Both the Voice_Alert_Manage application 2673 and the Voice_Alert_Request application 2674 may be embedded software programs that run automatically or in response to activation. The Voice_Alert_Request application 2674 may respond to a press of call-mode soft key and/or the recordation of a caller-originated alert and automatically generate a request to be sent to a PhonePage server. The Voice_Alert_Request application 2674 may include in the request either the caller-originated alert itself or relevant information, such as an identity of the other party to the communication session, to enable the PhonePage server to identify or select a prerecorded caller-originated alert. The radio unit 2610 may then transmit the request to the PhonePage server. The Voice_Alert_Manage application 2673 may be responsible for handling caller-originated alerts that accompany incoming calls or communication sessions. Generation of the requests for caller-originated alerts and/or the management of any received caller- originated alert may be conditioned on or related to preference settings that are stored in and/or managed by the voice alert preference module 2675.

At this point it should be noted that the technique for providing caller-originated alert signals in accordance with the present disclosure as described above typically involves the processing of input data and the generation of output data to some extent. This input data processing and output data generation may be implemented in hardware or software. For example, specific electronic components may be employed in a UE, a communications server, or similar or related circuitry for implementing the functions associated with the provision of caller-originated alert signals in accordance with the present disclosure as described above. Alternatively, one or more processors operating in accordance with stored instructions may implement the functions associated with the provision of caller-originated alert signals in accordance with the present disclosure as described above. If such is the case, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that such instructions may be stored on one or more processor- readable program storages (e.g., a magnetic or optical disk or solid-state memory), or transmitted to one or more processors via one or more signals.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments of and modifications to the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, although the present disclosure has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method for providing caller-originated alert signals, characterized in that the method comprises: creating (2503), by a first user associated with a first user equipment (UE A), an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment (UE B); requesting (2506), by the first user equipment (UE A), a communication session with the second user equipment (UE B); and causing the alert signal to be transmitted (2508), via a phonepage server (D), to the second user equipment (UE B) for rendering (2510) thereon to alert the second user of the communication session.

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a packet-switched network.

3. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least a portion of the communication session is carried on a circuit-switched network.

4. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alert signal is recorded and then transmitted to the phonepage server (D) upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

5. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alert signal is pre-recorded prior to selection of the second user for the communication session.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pre-recorded alert signal is stored on the phonepage server (D).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the second user is identified to the phonepage server (D) and the phonepage server (D) identifies the pre-recorded alert signal based on the identity of the second user.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the pre-recorded alert signal is stored in the first user equipment (UE A) and transmitted to the phonepage server (D) upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

9. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the phonepage server (D) pushes the alert signal to the second user equipment (UE B).

10. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alert signal is identified to the second user equipment (UE B) and the second user equipment (UE B) pulls the alert signal from the the phonepage server (D).

11. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the alert signal is customized based on one or more factors selected from a group consisting of: an identity of the second user, a type of the communication session, and predetermined triggering events associated with the communication session.

12. A system for providing caller-originated alert signals, the system comprising a phonepage server (D), a first user equipment (UE A), and a second user equipment (UE B), characterized in that: the first user equipment (UE A) is configured to create (2503) an alert signal that is customized for a second user associated with a second user equipment (UE B) and to request (2506) a communication session with the second user equipment

(UE B); the phonepage server (D) is configured to cause the customized alert signal to be transmitted (2508) to the second user equipment (UE B); and the second user equipment (UE B) is configured to render (2510) the customized alert signal to alert the second user of the communication session.

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the alert signal is recorded (2503) and then transmitted to the phonepage server (D) upon selection of the second user for the communication session.

14. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the alert signal is pre-recorded prior to selection of the second user for the communication session and stored on the phonepage server (D).

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that the second user is identified to the phonepage server (D) and the phonepage server (D) identifies the pre-recorded alert signal based on the identity of the second user.

16. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the phonepage server (D) pushes the alert signal to the second user equipment (UE B).

17. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the alert signal is identified to the second user equipment (UE B) and the second user equipment (UE B) pulls the alert signal from the phonepage server (D).

18. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the alert signal is customized based on one or more factors selected from a group consisting of: an identity of the second user, a type of the communication session, and predetermined triggering events associated with the communication session.

19. A user equipment (2600) for providing caller-originated alert signals, the user equipment (2600) comprising a processor (2650) operatively coupled to at least one memory unit (2651 ), a user interface (2620, 2630, 2640, 2652), and a communication unit (2610), characterized in that the processor (2650) is configured to: create an alert signal that is customized for a user associated with a second user equipment (UE B); request a communication session with the second user equipment (UE B); and cause the alert signal to be transmitted, via a phonepage server (D), to the second user equipment (UE B) for rendering thereon to alert the user of the communication session.