Systems and methods for selectively providing messages in telecommunications systems

Abstract

A telecommunications advertising means is disclosed. The telecommunication advertising means includes an advertisement database coupled to a processing means. The advertisement database stores subscriber specific or third party advertisements that are selectively associated with communications in a telecommunications network. The selective association is carried out by the processing means. In one embodiment, a router is coupled to the advertisement database. The router routes communications from source to destination within the telecommunications network. The router also routes advertisements that have been associated with the communications to the sources and destinations of the communications. A telecommunications system is also disclosed. The telecommunications system comprises a network subsystem, which includes a telecommunications advertising means. The telecommunications advertising means comprises an advertisement database and a processing means.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of facilitating a telephonic communication, comprising:
 receiving a network communication for telephonically calling a called party, the communication initiated by a calling party;   identifying information associated with the calling party from the received network communication;   identifying a first preference previously specified by the called party regarding presentation of messages in the course of facilitating telephonic communications with other parties;   in response to the received network communication, selecting a first message of a plurality of messages in a message database, the message selected based on both the identified information of the calling party and the identified first preference of the called party; and   presenting the selected message to the calling party; and   facilitating the telephonic communication between the calling party and the called party.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying a first attribute of the called party; and   wherein the first message is further selected in accordance with the identified first attribute.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of messages includes advertisements from third parties wherein the third party has specified a condition under which an individual advertisement is to be played, and wherein the first message is further selected in accordance with the specified condition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein presenting the first message comprises presenting a textual message to the calling party. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising presenting the selected first message to the called party. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 selecting a second message in the message database in accordance with a second identified preference and a second identified attribute; and   presenting the second message to the calling party.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first message in the message database is further selected in accordance with at least one of a second identified attribute of the calling party and a second preference of the called party. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the received network communication initiated by a calling party is received from a computer operated by the calling party. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the received network communication initiated by a calling party is received from a cellular device operated by the calling party. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the facilitated telephonic communication is facilitated by using one or more of: a wired telephone network, a cellular network, and the Internet. 
     
     
         12 . A method of presenting messages while facilitating telephonic communications, comprising:
 receiving a network communication from a calling party, the communication for initiating a telephonic call to a called party;   identifying a preference previously specified by the called party regarding presentation of advertisements in the course of telephonic communications to the called party from other parties;   identifying an attribute of the calling party from the received network communication;   accessing a database of stored advertisements from third parties to select a stored advertisement for presentation to at least one of the calling party and the called party in accordance with the previously specified called party preference and the identified attribute of the calling party; and   presenting the selected advertisement to at least the calling party; and   facilitating the completion of the telephonic communication between the calling party and the called party.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the received network communication is received from one or more of: a wired telephone network, a cellular network, and the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the attribute is identified through reference to at least one of the telephone number of the calling party and the telephone number of the called party. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected advertisement comprises an audible advertisement presented to the calling party. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected advertisement comprises a textual advertisement presented to at least the calling party. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selected advertisement comprises a graphic advertisement presented to at least the calling party. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected advertisement is played to the calling party in place of a ring back tone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the selected advertisement is played until the call is answered by the called party. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the advertisement is selected in reference to at least one of: the type of device associated with the telephone number of the calling party and the type of device associated with the telephone number of the called party. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the initiated telephonic call further includes video communication. 
     
     
         22 . A telecommunications message system, comprising:
 a message database containing a plurality stored messages; and   a network subsystem configured to receive a network communication initiating a telephonic communication between a calling party and a called party, and to connect a device associated with the calling party with a device associated with the called party, the network subsystem comprising,
 one or more processors coupled to the network subsystem and the message database, 
 one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors, and containing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to perform operations, comprising,
 providing a first party with a menu of preferences regarding presentation of messages connected with incoming telephonic communications, 
 receiving an input from the first party updating at least one of the preferences regarding presentation of messages connected with incoming telephonic communications; and storing the updated preferences, 
 receiving a network communication from a calling party initiating a telephonic call to a called party; 
 identifying a first attribute of the calling party from the network communication, the first attribute of the calling party including at least one of,
 an identifier of calling party initiating a telephonic communication to a called party, and 
 the device associated with the calling party in initiating the telephonic communication, 
 
 selecting a first message stored in the message database in response to the identified first attribute of the calling party and with a preference identified by the first party regarding messages to be presented in connection with incoming telephonic communications, wherein the first party is the called party, 
 presenting the first message at the device associated with the calling party, and 
 connecting the device associated with the calling party with a device associated with the called party to allow telephonic communication between the calling and called parties. 
 
   
     
     
         23 . The telecommunication message system of  claim 22 , wherein the operations further comprise presenting a second message to the called party. 
     
     
         24 . The telecommunication message system of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second messages are the same. 
     
     
         25 . The telecommunication message system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 in response to the received network communication initiating a telephonic communication, accessing one or more previously stored preferences of the calling party; and   selecting the first message further in response to the one or more accessed preferences of the calling party.   
     
     
         26 . The telecommunication message system of  claim 25 , wherein the first message is selected further in response to the type of the device associated with the calling party.