CROSS REFERENCES  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/609,723 application entitled “Caller Controlled Network-Based Timed Ring Suppression,” (Attorney Docket 03-BS007/BS030035) filed on Jun. 30, 2003, and of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0002]     This application relates to applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/609,800 entitled “Network Based Timed Ring Suppression,” (Attorney Docket BS030034 (03-BS006)) filed on Jun. 30, 2003, and of which the “Brief Summary of the Invention” and “Detailed Description of the Invention” sections are incorporated herein by this reference.  
         [0003]     This application relates to applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/610,416 “Timed Ring Suppressor,” (Attorney Docket 03-BS003/BS02497) filed on Jun. 30, 2003 and of which the “Brief Summary of the Invention” and “Detailed Description of the Invention” sections are incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION  
       [0004]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0005]     The exemplary embodiments generally relate to the field of communications, and more specifically, to systems and methods for timed ring suppression of communications devices.  
         [0006]     Telecommunications has experienced explosive growth, and more growth is planned as telecommunication access and numerous communications devices improve. This explosive growth is revolutionizing special services offered to subscribing customers. Of the special service offerings, the most relevant to this invention is the caller identification or Caller ID services. A customer or a user of a telephone that is served by the Caller ID service is provided with a calling party&#39;s directory information. Presently available Caller ID systems provide the calling party&#39;s telephone number and a billing name associated with the calling party&#39;s telephone number (if available) when an incoming caller line identification (ICLID) signal can be detected, decoded, and transmitted to the called telephone or other display device associated with the called telephone (e.g., a Caller ID device). The Caller ID services also allow the customer to receive directory information for other incoming calls while the customer&#39;s phone is used (e.g., during a conversation with another party); this service is sometimes referred to as Caller ID Call Waiting service.  
         [0007]     A customer may use the displayed Caller ID information to make a decision to answer and/or to prepare for the call. In addition, the customer may use Caller ID information to block incoming calls associated with one or more ICLID signals including specific telephone numbers selected by the customer and/or privacy screening services for unidentifiable telephone numbers of incoming calls (e.g., telemarketers). If the customer wants to selectively answer incoming calls using Caller ID information, the customer has several choices—block the call or ignore the ringing (or other audible alerts) until the call is processed by a voice messaging system (or other call handling system) or until the caller hangs up. If the call is blocked, then the customer may not have immediate notification of the incoming blocked call to re-evaluate whether to accept the call since circumstances for accepting the call may change. If the customer ignores the call and listens to unwanted ringing, then the customer may be annoyed with the repetitive noise alerting the customer of the call. In recent years, telephony providers and manufacturers have tried to provide alternate systems and methods to alert the customer of selective incoming calls that minimizes interruptions for unwanted calls.  
         [0008]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,289 to Logsdon et al., entitled “Caller ID Telephone Security Device,” discloses a caller ID telephone security system that mutes the ringer of a telephone until the ICLID signal of the incoming call is compared with a list of telephone numbers (or other reference data) to determine whether to activate the ringer and pass the call to the communications device. If the call does not pass through to the communications device, then the call is blocked, the ringer is never activated, and, thus, the customer is not alerted of the incoming call. Further, because this invention requires that the customer to predetermine which calls to pass through and which calls to block, if the customer has not identified a particular telephone number (or other reference data) to pass through or block, then a desired call may be blocked or an unwanted call may ring and pass through.  
         [0009]     Another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,814 to Adams, entitled “Telephone with Ringer Silencer Screening Feature,” discloses a telephone with a ringer silencer that allows the customer to depress a keypad to deactivate the ringer on a call-by-call basis after activation of the ringer by receipt of the incoming call. That is, the ringer produces an audible alert until the customer is able to depress the keypad. And, once the keypad is depressed, the ringer does not produce another audible alert until the next incoming call. Another embodiment discloses a system that either deactivates the ringer or that allows the customer to depress a keypad to transfer the call to a voice messaging system thus terminating the signal to the ringer. Again, the customer may be annoyed with the ringing until the keypad is depressed, and if the customer accidentally depresses the transfer keypad, then the call is routed to voicemail and the customer can not answer the call.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     According to exemplary embodiments, the needs described above and other needs are met by providing systems and methods for enabling timed ring suppression. Typically, a customer receives an incoming communication to a communications device and is alerted of the incoming communication with an initial alert (e.g., a ring) produced by a ringer (or by an alternate incoming communications alert) of the communications device. Thereafter, subsequent rings of the ringer (or alternate subsequent alerts) may be suppressed for a selected time period such that one or more rings are silenced or otherwise de-activated during an uninterrupted on-hook state of the communications device. The time period for silencing the ringer is controlled by a timing parameter that may have an initial default to suppress one ring (e.g., one ring cycle approximately 5-6 seconds for a POTS phone coupled with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)). Alternatively, the timing parameter may be selected for predetermined periods of time by a customer (and/or user) of the communications device (also referred to as a “receiving party” or a “destination party”), and further, the timing parameter may be set differently for different callers (also referred to as a “calling party” or an “originating party”). The timed ring suppression may be controlled by customer premise hardware and equipment including a telephone (or alternate communications device) with a built in (or otherwise integrated) timed ring suppressor and a stand-alone timed ring suppressor coupled with the communications device. In an alternate embodiment, the timed ring suppression may be controlled by a communications network that detects, decodes, and processes timed ring suppression of the incoming communication to the communications device. Additionally, emergency personnel, authorized calling parties, and other authorized entities (e.g., a technician of the communications network) may override the timed ring suppression to continuously audibly alert (or otherwise continuously alert) the customer (or another receiving party) of the incoming communication.  
         [0011]     According to an exemplary embodiment, a calling party places an incoming communication to a telephone number (or alternate communications address, such as an Internet Protocol address) of a receiving party&#39;s communications device that has activated timed ring suppression. The calling party enters an interrupt code that authorizes interruption or disabling of timed ring suppression and connects the incoming communication while maintaining a continuous alert/indicator of the incoming communication, and, thus overrides suppression of a ringer (or other indicator) according to a timing parameter. The interrupt code entered by the calling party is received in a communications network, such as, for example the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a mobile switching network, a satellite network, a world wide electronic data communications network (e.g., internet, intranet, and/or extranet), and other networks providing communications. The communications network detects, decodes, and processes the incoming communications signal and the interrupt code with a timed ring suppression profile associated with the receiving party&#39;s communications device. If the communications network verifies authorization to interrupt or disable timed ring suppression, then the incoming communications signal and an interrupt timed ring suppression signal are transmitted to the receiving party&#39;s communications device so that the incoming communication is connected and the receiving party&#39;s communications device provides a continuous alert (e.g., ringing) despite the receiving party&#39;s communications device having activated timed ring suppression services (e.g., to silence subsequent alerts of an incoming communication according to a timed parameter). Further, the communications network may send a notification message to the receiving party&#39;s communications device to notify a user that timed ring suppression is interrupted and/or disabled. For example, the notification message may be sent instead of a caller identification message so that a caller identification device displays “TRS OVERRIDE” to alert the receiving party that the caller has disabled timed ring suppression.  
         [0012]     According to another exemplary embodiment, a caller controlled timed ring suppression method includes receiving an incoming communications signal in a communications network that includes an interrupt code to disable timed ring suppression of a receiving party&#39;s communications device, verifying the interrupt code is valid, and if the interrupt code is valid, disabling the timed ring suppression. According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for caller controlled timed ring suppression includes receiving an incoming communications signal in a communications network that includes an interrupt code to interrupt timed ring suppression of a communications indicator for a receiving party&#39;s communications device, verifying the interrupt code is valid by accessing a database of timed ring suppression profiles to determine whether the interrupt code corresponds to a caller control parameter of a timed ring suppression profile associated with the incoming communications signal, and if the interrupt code is valid, interrupting timed ring suppression such that when the incoming communications signal is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device, the receiving party&#39;s communications device presents a continuous indicator of the incoming communications signal while the communications signal is in an uninterrupted, on-hook state. The timed ring suppression discussed in the above two embodiments suppresses a ringer (or other call indicator) of the receiving party&#39;s communications device after the receiving party&#39;s communications device activates the ringer to produce an initial alert of the incoming communications signal such that subsequent audible alerts of the incoming communications signal are silenced according to a timing parameter and wherein the timed ring suppression further reactivates the ringer to produce subsequent unsuppressed audible alerts according to the timing parameter.  
         [0013]     According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a caller controlled timed ring suppression system includes a timed ring suppression application communicating with a communications network. The application communicates with the communications network to detect, decode, and/or communicate an incoming communications signal on a communications link from a calling party communications device to a receiving party communications device. Further, the application stores (or otherwise accesses) a timed ring suppression profile that includes an identifier of timed ring suppression reference data and/or a timing parameter for suppressing a ringer of the receiving party communications device after the receiving party communications device activates the ringer to produce an initial alert of the incoming communications signal. The timed ring suppressor application stores a timed ring suppression profile that includes a telephone number, a directory name, a date/time identifier, a geographical identifier, a caller control interrupt code, and a timing parameter for suppressing a communications indicator of the receiving party&#39;s communications device after the receiving party&#39;s communications device activates the communications indicator to produce an initial alert of the incoming communications signal. The timed ring suppression application generates a timed ring suppression signal for silencing subsequent audible alerts of the incoming communications signal according to the timed ring suppression profile. Further, the timed ring suppression application further generates an interrupt timed ring suppression signal in response to receiving the caller control interrupt code from a calling party. The interrupt timed ring suppression signal is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device to temporarily disable the timed ring suppression signal such that the communications indicator maintains a continuous, uninterrupted alert of the uninterrupted, on-hook incoming communications signal. The communications network may include a public switched telephone network, a mobile switching telephone communications network, a satellite communications network, and a world wide electronic data communications network having a timed ring suppression interface via at least one of an internet, an intranet, or an extranet.  
         [0014]     Further details on these exemplary embodiments and other possible embodiments including methods of timed ring suppression are set forth below. As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, this invention has wide utility in a number of areas as illustrated by the discussion below. These embodiments may be accomplished singularly, or in combination, in one or more of the implementations of this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novel features of this invention are more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is perspective front view of the timed ring suppressor device of  FIG. 2  including a screen display for inputting a communications address for timed ring suppression according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression system illustrating a communications network connecting a calling party&#39;s communications device with a receiving party&#39;s communications device and a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression system illustrating a public switched telephone network connecting a calling party&#39;s telephone with a customer&#39;s telephone and a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression system illustrating a communications network connecting a calling party&#39;s communications device with a receiving party&#39;s communications device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression system illustrating the communications connections of a calling party&#39;s telephone, one or more communications networks, a customer&#39;s telephone, and a customer&#39;s computer according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression system illustrating the communications connections of a calling party&#39;s telephone, one or more communications networks, and a plurality of various communications devices according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor device according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a timed ring suppressor device according to an alternate embodiment of this invention; and  
         [0027]      FIGS. 12-13  are flowcharts describing timed ring suppression according to embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).  
         [0029]     Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, flowcharts, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems, methods and computer program products embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.  
         [0030]     Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products that operate timed ring suppression services to different communications devices and via one or more communications networks to enable, disable and/or otherwise control timed ring suppression. The timed ring suppressor leverages the assets of the connected communications device(s) and/or communications networks in terms optimally using the connected software, hardware, equipment, networks, and/or other information technology assets. For example, a customer&#39;s communications device may have a local and/or a wide area network that utilizes Ethernet, dedicated private lines, Frame Relay, ISDN, ATM, ADSL, and the like to provide a high speed connection to a data network, such as the Internet, Intranet, and/or Extranet. Typically, the customer receives an incoming communication to the communications device and is alerted of the incoming communication with an initial alert (e.g., a ring) produced by a mechanical/electrical ringer (or alternate incoming communications alert) of the communications device. Thereafter, subsequent rings of the ringer may be suppressed for a selected time period such that one or more rings are silenced during an uninterrupted on-hook state of the telephone. The time period for silencing the ringer is controlled by a time parameter (also referred to as a “timing parameter”) that may have an initial default to suppress one ring (e.g., one ring cycle approximately 5-6 seconds for a POTS phone coupled with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)). Alternatively, the time parameter may be selected for predetermined periods of time by a customer (and/or user) of the communications device, and further, the time parameter may be set differently for different callers (also referred to as calling party). The timed ring suppression may be controlled by customer premise hardware and equipment including a telephone (or alternate communications device) with a built in (or otherwise integrated) timed ring suppressor and a stand-alone timed ring suppressor coupled with the telephone. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the timed ring suppression may be controlled by a communications network that detects, decodes, and processes timed ring suppression of the incoming communication to the communications device. Additionally, emergency personnel, authorized calling parties, and other authorized entities (e.g., a technician of the communications network) may override the timed ring suppression to continuously audibly alert the customer (or another receiving party) of the incoming communication.  
         [0031]     As used herein, the term “communications device” includes wired and wireless communications devices, such as a plain old telephone (POTS phone), a mobile phone, a wireless phone, a WAP phone, a satellite phone, a computer, a modem, a pager, a digital music device (e.g., MP3/4 player), a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone, a personal digital assistant, an interactive television, a digital signal processor, and a Global Positioning System device. Further, as used herein, the term “data” includes electronic information, such as, for example facsimile, electronic mail (e-mail), text, video, audio, and/or voice in a variety of formats, such as dual tone multi-frequency, digital, analog, and/or others. Additionally, the data may include: (1) executable programs, such as a software application, (2) an address, location, and/or other identifier of the storage location for the data, (3) integrated or otherwise combined files, such as a grouping of destination communications addresses associated with the receiving party, and/or (4) timed ring suppression profiles, including configuration, authenticity, security, and other data. In various embodiments, the data may be stored by the communications network, a peripheral storage device connected to the communications network, the timed ring suppressor device, the communications device, and/or other connected networks.  
         [0032]     Referring now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a timed ring suppressor device  100  coupled with a telephone  160 . The timed ring suppressor device includes a system controller  102 , a processor  104 , a memory subsystem  106 , a database  108 , a timed ring suppression management module (also referred to as the “timed ring suppression program”)  110 , an input/output (“I/O”) interface  120 , one or more input/output device(s)  122 , a caller identification device  124 , a telephone line connection (or connection to an alternate communications device)  130 , a timed ring suppressor  140 , and a circuit  145  that connects the timed ring suppressor with a ringer  150  of the telephone  160 . The system controller  102 , as known in the art, provides a bridging function between the processor  104 , the memory subsystem  106 , the input/output interface  120 , and the timed ring suppressor  140 . Typically, as known in the art, a system bus communicates signals, such as data signals, control signals, and address signals, between the processor  104  and the system controller  102 . The processor  104  executes an operating system that controls the internal functions of the timed ring suppressor device  100 . The timed ring suppression program  110  operates within the system memory  106 ; however, the timed ring suppression program  110  could also reside in flash memory or a peripheral storage device. The I/O Interface  120  allows the timed ring suppressor device  100  to monitor, detect, receive, and decode an incoming identification (ICLID) signal (or alternate network information) of an incoming communication via the Caller ID device  124  coupled with line  130 . Alternatively, the timed ring suppressor device  100  may receive the ICLID signal from a peripheral device (not shown) or via telephone  160 . The timed ring suppression program  110  compares reference data transmitted with the ICLID signal to data stored in one of more timed ring suppression profiles stored in memory  106  to activate the timed ring suppressor  140  and enable the circuit  145  to suppress the ringer  150  of telephone  160 . A timing parameter of the timed ring suppression profile specifies the time period to silence the ringer and, if applicable, to enable subsequent ringing after the time period has passed. The timing parameter is preferably about six seconds to correspond with a ring cycle. The timing parameter could also be multiples of six second increments to correspond with subsequent ring cycles. The timing parameter, however, could alternatively be any duration from less than one second to not exceeding about two minutes.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a similar block diagram of the timed ring suppressor  100  of  FIG. 1 ; however, the timed ring suppressor of  FIG. 2  includes a digital signal processor  202 , an internal memory system  204 , an external (or peripheral) memory system  206 , a power management system  208 , an input/output processor  220  interfacing with a voice/video player  231 , a voice/video recorder  232 , a biometrics sensor  233 , a keypad  234 , a display  235 , a communications (“comm.”) port  236 , the timed ring suppression program  110 , the telephone line connection  130 , the timed ring suppressor  140 , and the circuit  145  that connects the timed ring suppressor  140  with the ringer  150  of the telephone  160 . The timed ring suppression program  110  operates within a memory device of the digital signal processor  202 . The memory device could include the internal memory  204  of the digital signal processor  202 , or the memory device could include the external memory device  206  communicating with the digital signal processor  202 . The digital signal processor  202  converts analog signals to digital signals and converts digital signals to analog signals. The digital signal processor  202  could include compression and decompression algorithms, cancellation algorithms, audio-processing circuitry, filter circuitry, and amplifier circuitry. Although digital signal processors can be designed to provide differing capabilities and a variety of performance criteria, the basic functions of the digital signal processor are known and, thus, will not be further discussed.  
         [0034]     The digital signal processor  202  interfaces with an input/output processor  220 . The input/output processor  220  controls system input/output and provides telephony-like control features. A bus provides a signal communication path between the digital signal processor  202  and the input/output processor  220 . The input/output processor  220  is a microprocessor that includes memory (not shown), communication controllers (not shown), and peripheral controllers (not shown). The communication controllers, for example, could control packet-based communications with a data network (shown as reference numeral  860  in  FIG. 8-10 ) through the COMM port  236 . The communication controllers could also control packet-based communications with a telecommunications switch (shown as reference numeral  610  in FIGS.  6 ,  8 - 10 ) through the COMM port  236 . The clock source  237  provides a system clock for the timed ring suppressor device  100 , and the clock source  237  may also include higher and lower frequency multiples of the system clock depending upon power requirements and power availability. The power management system  208  provides differing power control mechanisms, such as a sleep mode and a low-power mode, to efficiently utilize available power and to reduce thermal management concerns. Further, the power management system may include a power source, such as a rechargeable battery to provide power and allow the timed ring suppression device  100  to be portable.  
         [0035]     The peripheral controllers of the input/output processor  220  provide an interface with the attached peripherals including, for example, the voice/video player  231 , voice/video recorder  232 , the biometrics sensor  233 , the display  235  (such as an LCD/LED/CRT display), the keypad  234 , and the COMM port  130 . The timed ring suppression program  110  may cooperate with the operating system and with the peripherals (e.g., display  235  and keypad  234 ) to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for the timed ring suppression program  110 . The GUI provides a convenient visual and/or audible interface with the user of the time ring suppression device  100 . As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the user (e.g., the customer) interacts with the timed ring suppression program  110  over a variety of mediums, such as, for example, a stylus (shown as reference numeral  355  in  FIG. 3 ), keyboard (shown as reference numeral  350  in  FIG. 3 ), and punch buttons (shown as reference numerals  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  342 ,  344 ,  346 ,  348 , and  349  of  FIG. 3 ) of the keyboard system, a display screen (shown as reference numeral  300  of  FIG. 3 ) of the graphics subsystem, and/or a voice-activated menu prompt (shown as punch button  342  and speaker  360  in  FIG. 3 ) of the audio subsystem. Additionally, the peripheral bus controller provides an interface with the biometrics sensor  233 , such as, for example, a fingerprint ID device. The biometrics sensor  233  may provide security features that prevent unauthorized users from exploiting the timed ring suppression device  100 . The biometrics sensor  233  could also comprise retina recognition device and software, DNA/RNA recognition device and software, facial recognition device and software, speech recognition device and software, and/or scent recognition device and software.  
         [0036]     The timed ring suppressor device  100  enables the circuit  145  to suppress the ringer  150  of telephone  160 . If, for example, the timed ring suppressor device  100  communicates with the telecommunications switch (shown as reference numeral  610  in FIGS.  6 ,  8 - 10 ), the COMM port  236  receives the incoming line identification (ICLID) signal transmitted via phone line  130  with an incoming communication. The ICLID signal includes telephone network information provided by a telecommunications provider. When the ICLID signal is received, the digital signal processor  202  interfaces with the timed ring suppression program  110  and with the internal memory device  204  and/or the external memory device  206  to associate a timed ring suppression profile that matches reference data of the ICLID signal (e.g., a matching telephone number). The timed ring suppression program  110  includes the timing parameter for suppressing subsequent rings of the ringer  150  after the ringer  150  produces an initial alert (e.g., a ring) of the incoming communication. Thus, the customer (or another receiving party) is always provided an initial alert of the incoming communication. Once the timed ring suppression profile is associated, the digital signal processor  202  and the clock source  237  operate with the timed ring suppressor  140  to suppress subsequent rings of the ringer  150  according to the timing parameter. Alternatively, the timed ring suppressor may be manually activated by a punch button (such as reference numeral  348  in  FIG. 3 ) to suppress one or more subsequent rings of the ringer  150 .  
         [0037]     The timed ring suppression program  110  may be physically embodied and/or otherwise stored on or in a computer-readable medium. This computer-readable medium may include CD-ROM, DVD, tape, cassette, floppy disk, memory card, and large-capacity disk (such as IOMEGA®, ZIP®, JAZZ®, and other large-capacity memory products (IOMEGA®, ZIP®, and JAZZ® are registered trademarks of Iomega Corporation, 1821 W. lomega Way, Roy, Utah 84067, 801.332.1000, www.iomega.com). This computer-readable medium, or media, could be distributed to end-customers, licensees, and assignees. These types of computer-readable media, and other types not mention here but considered within the scope of this invention, allow the timed ring suppression program  110  to be easily disseminated.  
         [0038]     The processor (such as reference numerals  104  of  FIG. 1  and  204  of  FIG. 2 ) is typically a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., for example, manufactures a full line of microprocessors, such as the ATHLON™ (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., one AMD Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400, 800.538.8450, www.amd.com). Sun Microsystems also designs and manufactures microprocessors (Sun Microsystems, Inc., 901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto Calif. 94303, www.sun.com). The Intel Corporation manufactures microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com). Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturers include Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309 Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International Business Machines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900, www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com).  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective front view of the timed ring suppression device  100  of  FIG. 2  includes a display screen  300  having displays for a time  302 , a date  304 , a numeric identifier  306  of an incoming Caller ID (e.g., ICLID signal) with an incoming communication, a numeric identifier  308  of a matched timed ring suppression (TRS) Caller ID (i.e., reference data matched from the ICLID signal with data stored in a timed ring suppression profile), and a graphical user interface  320  for accessing, inputting, modifying, and/or otherwise managing a timed ring suppression profile. The timed ring suppression device  100  also includes a lighted display panel  310  that flashes to produce a visual alert of an incoming, timed ring suppressed call in an uninterrupted on-hook state (e.g., an incoming communication that has activated at least one ring of the ringer and subsequently had the ringer silenced by the timed ring suppression device  100  such that the call is in an uninterrupted on-hook state). Because the panel would alert the customer of the incoming, time ring suppressed call, the customer (and/or other person wanting to answer the call) would know that the call is still available to answer even though the ringing is suppressed. Thus, the customer would know that if they took the phone off-hook (e.g., to answer the call or to place an outgoing call) then the incoming communication would be connected. The lighted display panel  310  may be part of graphics subsystem  230  or may be an isolated component. The lighted display panel  310 , for example, could be remotely located on a wall, ceiling, or table to provide the visual alert. The lighted display panel  310  could operate via wireless communication (e.g., infrared and/or the I.E.E.E. 802 standards) with the timed ring suppression device  100 . The lighted display panel  310  could also operate via a wired connection. The keyboard system  232  includes punch buttons  330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  342 ,  344 ,  346 ,  348 ,  349 , keyboard  350 , and stylus  355 . The stylus  355  is connected by a cord  358  or other appropriate connection assembly (not shown) to a housing  370  of the timed ring suppression device  100  and positioned in a storage holder  357  when not in use. The stylus  355  may be used to interact with the keyboard  350  and/or with the display  300  to access, select, modify, and/or otherwise manage one or more timed ring suppression profiles. Alternatively, the user could use his/her fingers or other pointed device to select each character from the keyboard  350 . With regards to the punch buttons, they provide a convenient interface for quickly and conveniently interacting with the timed ring suppression device  100 . For example, the user may punch or press (1) a left arrow key  330  to scroll through recent outgoing calls (e.g., calls dialed from the communications device  150 ) or recent incoming communication to select a new telephone number to add to a timed ring suppression profile, go back a step when interacting with the timed ring suppression program  110 , and/or for other interactions with the timed ring suppression program  110 , (2) a right arrow key  335  to scroll forwards through recent outgoing calls or recent incoming communication and for other interactions with the timed ring suppression program  110 , (3) a “Input/Modify” button  340  to initiate composing or editing one or more timed ring suppression profiles, (4) a “Voice” button  342  to record a voice or other audio message (in different embodiments, the audio message may be converted from a speech-to-text message to compose and/or modify one or more timed ring suppression profiles and/or to convert a text timed ring suppression profile (or a telephone number of the ICLID signal) from text-to-speech (such as with visually impaired customers), (5) a “Save”  344  button to store one or more timed ring suppression profiles, (6) a “Delete” button  346  to erase one or more timed ring suppression profiles, (6) a “Silence Ringer” button  348  to manually activate timed ring suppression of the ringer (such as when the incoming communication is not associated with the timed ring suppression profile to automatically enable timed ring suppression), and (7) an “Enter” button  349  to enter and/or confirm selection of information displayed on the display screen  300 . Further, the “Voice” button  342  interfaces with a speaker/recorder  360  of the audio system to audibly present and/or record data of the timed ring suppression profile and to interact with the timed ring suppression program  110  to administer and otherwise manage the timed ring suppression device  100 .  
         [0040]     Typically, the customer creates, modifies, and/or otherwise manages one or more timed ring suppression profiles by punching or pressing the “Input/Modify” button  340  that brings up an interactive “Input Telephone Number for Timed Ring Suppression” GUI (similar to GUI  320 ). The customer may then select to (1) input a new address (e.g., telephone number) or (2) access a timed ring suppression caller identification organizer that stores and sorts data by (i) a telephone number associated with the incoming line identification signal, (ii) an outgoing telephone number dialed from the communications device, and/or (iii) a name associated with a telephone number, an outgoing telephone number, and/or a caller control signal. After the communications address is input, the customer presses the “Enter” button  349  to enter the communications address. After the address(es) is entered, the customer may be prompted by another GUI (not shown) to associate the address with a name and/or with a communications device so that when a call is received from that number and matched with the timed ring suppression profile, the display  300  provides the telephone number, name, communications device, and/or information such as a date/time of the incoming communication, a geographic location identifier of the call, a calling party control/password to override timed ring suppression, and other information associated with the incoming communication. Still further, the customer may be prompted by another GUI (not shown) to select a timing parameter that defines the time period for silencing an incoming communication from a particular communications address. The timing parameter may also specify a time period to re-activate the ringer. For example, the customer may select to suppress a call from his/her mother after the initial ring for 18 seconds, and thereafter, to reactivate the ringer. That way the customer knows that his mother&#39;s incoming communication is still available to answer, and she has not terminated the call (and, thus infer that the call might be important enough to answer). Another example may be to suppress a call from unknown or blocked numbers indefinitely, that is, after the first ring, all subsequent rings of the incoming communication having the unknown or blocked number are suppressed until the call is terminated and/or otherwise handled (e.g., answered by voice messaging system).  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a similar block diagram of the timed ring suppressor  100  of  FIG. 2 ; however, the timed ring suppressor  100  of  FIG. 4  includes the telephone  160  that houses the voice/video player  231 , the voice/video recorder  232 , the biometrics sensor  233 , the keypad  234 , the display, and the communications (“comm.”) port. That is, these components are integral to telephone  160 , and, thus are not integrated into the peripheral timed ring suppression device  100  shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, a keypad of a telephone (not shown) may be used instead of the keypad  350 , punch buttons ( 330 ,  335 ,  340 ,  342 ,  344 ,  346 ,  348 , and  349 ), and stylus  355  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  illustrates a timed ring suppression communications system including a calling party&#39;s communications device  510 , at least one communications network  520 , and a receiving party&#39;s (e.g., the customer&#39;s) communications device  530  having or coupled with the timed ring suppression device  100 . The calling party uses communications device  510  to place a call (or other communication) over communications network  520  to the receiving party&#39;s communications device  530 . A ringer (or other noise making device) of the communications device  530  produces an initial alert (e.g., one ring) and an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal associated with the incoming communication is detected, decoded, and compared with one or more timed ring suppression profiles by the timed ring suppression device  100 . If reference data of the ICLID signal matches a timed ring suppression profile, then the timed ring suppression profile specifies a timing parameter (or uses a default timing parameter) to silence subsequent rings of the ringer for the incoming communication. As discussed above, the timed ring suppression profile includes data for communications addresses (incoming and outgoing calls), names and/or other identifiers of a caller, time, date, geographic and/or other network identification information associated with the ICLID signal, identification of the caller&#39;s communications device (e.g., cellular phone, satellite phone, etc.), the timing parameter to suppress ringing, and/or caller control override features.  FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 ; however, the calling party&#39;s communications device is a wireless communications device, such as a cellular phone  605 . The call from cellular phone  605  is transmitted to an antenna (not shown), then coupled to a mobile switch (also not shown), and then routed via switch  610  into the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  620 . The PSTN  620  decodes and associates the ICLID signal with the call, and, then routes the call with the ICLID signal to the destination address (e.g., the customer&#39;s telephone number) via switch  610  and the incoming communication and ICLID signal are transmitted to the timed ring suppression device  100  and telephone  160 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  illustrates another timed ring suppression communications system that includes the calling party&#39;s communications device  510  and the receiving party&#39;s device  530  communicating with the communications network  520 . Neither the calling party&#39;s communications device  510  nor the receiving party&#39;s communications device  530  integrate and/or are coupled with the timed ring suppression device. Rather, the receiving party (e.g., customer and/or user) makes use of an access number, web page, and/or other medium of the telecommunications network to access, create, modify, and/or otherwise manage one or more timed ring suppression profiles and timed ring suppression services. For example, if the customer calls an access number, the customer is prompted for authorization and/or identification (e.g., a pin number associated with a billing number, password, and/or other verification information), and thereafter, an interactive voice-activated menu may present options for the customer to select in order to access stored timed ring suppression profiles, compose and/or generate a new timed ring suppression profile including inputting one or more communications addresses, names, timing parameters, and/or other data. The telecommunications network  520  stores the timed ring suppression profile and/or other preferences for timed ring suppression of the customer.  
         [0044]     Moreover, the timed ring suppression menu presented by telecommunications network  520  may be programmed over a variety of mediums, such as, for example, a voice-activated and/or Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) menu prompt. The customer, for example, might select to access stored timed ring suppression profiles by entering a “1” on a touch-tone keypad or by speaking into a receiving audio subsystem and stating the word “one.” This entry would then prompt the customer through choices such as accessing recently sent and/or recently received calls, alphanumeric listings of names for the calling party, and so on. After making a selection, the telecommunications network  520  retrieves the stored timed ring suppression profile from a database (such as reference numeral  845  of  FIG. 8 ). In addition, the customer might enter a code (e.g., “*99”) in order to automatically activate timed ring suppression for all incoming communications. Similarly the customer could unblock timed ring suppression by entering another code.  
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows a more detailed timed ring suppression communications system that makes use of the communications network to enable, disable, and/or otherwise manage timed ring suppression similar to the communications system shown in  FIG. 7 . The timed ring suppression communications system of  FIG. 8  includes the calling party&#39;s communications device  605  (shown as a cellular telephone), the communications switch  610  connected to the PSTN  620  that includes a service switching point (SSP)  820 , a service control point (SCP)  830 , an Intranet  835  (for the telecommunications provider to administer and program the telecommunications network components or for the customer to access and program timed ring suppression services), a timed ring suppression (TRS) Dataserver  840 , a database of one or more timed ring suppression profiles  845 , an Internet Service Provider (e.g., America On-Line)  850 , a data network  860 , a gateway  865 , a destination communications switch  610 , and one or more receiving party&#39;s communications device(s) shown as telephone  160  capable of communications with the telecommunications network and as modem  810  and personal computer  800  having the timed ring suppression program  110  (referred to as the “Timed Ring Suppression Management Module” in  FIG. 8 ) and an Internet Protocol address  805  to enable communications with the data network  860 . Each switch  610  enables the connected communications devices  130 ,  160 ,  605 ,  810 , and  800  to communicate electronic communication signals via the data network  860  (e.g., world wide electronic data network such as an Internet, an Intranet, and/or an Extranet) and/or the telecommunications network  620  (e.g., a central office (CO), a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), and/or a combination CO/MTSO). The telecommunications network  620  may use any means of coupling one of the switches  610  to the telecommunications network  620 , but the coupling means is preferably high-capacity, high-bandwidth optical transport services, Gigabit Ethernet services, and/or the like. As those of ordinary skill in the art of telecommunications understand, the telecommunications network  620  could also link each of the switches  610  via other appropriate means, such as, for example a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) structure with redundant, multiple rings.  
         [0046]     The customer may use the TRS Management Module (also referred to as the timed ring suppression program)  110  running on personal computer  800  with Intranet  835  to access and login to the TRS DataServer  840  to establish a timed ring suppression profile in the database  845 . Alternatively, an administrator of the telecommunications network  620  could similarly use another personal computer (not shown) and/or alternate workstation (not shown) networked with the Intranet  835  to access, add, delete, store, modify, and manage the database  845  of one or more timed ring suppression profiles. The timed ring suppression profiles control access, sharing, notification, routing, security, transactions, troubleshooting, management, and/or additional processing of timed ring suppression profiles exchanged to/from one or more communications networks customers, users, and non-customers. More specifically, the timed ring suppression profiles establish preferences for enabling timed ring suppression including (1) archiving the timed ring suppression profile to a storage device associated with the telecommunications service provider (so that a database of timed ring suppression profiles including one or more timed ring suppression profiles and/or associated communications addresses are stored), (2) encrypting the timed ring suppression profile (or a portion of the timed ring suppression profile) so that only the receiving party&#39;s communications device can enable timed ring suppression, (3) copying the timed ring suppression profile (e.g., copying the timed ring suppression profile from/to the timed ring suppression device  100  of  FIG. 2  to the telecommunications network  620 ), and (4) associating the timed ring suppression profile with a variety of fields, files, and/or other data for Timed Ring Suppression Services, such as, for example login information associated with the customer, user, and/or administrator, password, telephone number(s) or Service Node(s) of the customer (this may include a plurality of addresses that are associated with a Service Node or other switch serving the receiving party&#39;s communications device), TCP/IP address of the customer, email address of the customer, profile of the calling party&#39;s communications device associated with the matched timed ring suppression profile (e.g., presentation formats of various communications devices), a time or date identifier (e.g., day of week or calendar date), other information associated with the incoming line identification (ICLID) communications signal, display and/or presentation data associated with a GUI (e.g., color, font, placement on screen, etc.), telecommunications network defaults, and timed ring suppression defaults. Typically, the Caller ID Messaging Profile includes data for (1) the identifier of the calling party (e.g., a name of the calling party), (2) the identifier of the incoming communications address (e.g., a phone number of the calling party&#39;s telephone), (3) the time of the incoming communication, (4) the date of the incoming communication, (5) the geographic region associated with the incoming communication, (6) caller control features to disable timed ring suppression, (7) the identifier of the calling party&#39;s communications device, (8) other ICLID information, (9) the timing parameter to suppress ringing, (10) other parameters that enable selective timed ring suppression including times of day and days of week, and (11) formatting and configuration parameters to enable timed ring suppression for various communications devices. The data of the Timed Ring Suppression Services provide instructions for (1) billing, (2) identification and authentication parameters, (3) parameters to enable and to bypass the disable parameters, (4) memory services for stored timed ring suppression profile data, and/or (5) configuration and formatting preferences for each calling party&#39;s communications device communicating with each communications network. In addition, the data for the Timed Ring Suppression Services may include instructions for troubleshooting problems including error messages. Thus, TRS DataServer  840  functions as a computer server, database, and processor that is dedicated to managing timed ring suppression over other connected networks (e.g., data network  860 ) to the receiving party&#39;s communications device.  
         [0047]     The telecommunications network  620  may include wired, optical, and/or wireless elements and may further include private network elements, such as private branch exchanges (PBXs), and/or other elements (not shown). The telecommunications network  620  includes Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) componentry controlling many features of the network. The telecommunications network  620  and/or each of the switches  610  could also include a packet-based “soft switch” that uses software control to provide voice, video, and/or data services by dynamically changing its connection data rates and protocols types. If the telecommunications network  620  and/or one of the switches  610  should include a softswitch, the AIN componentry is replaced by an application server that interfaces with the softswitch via a packet protocol, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The means of communicating the timed ring suppression profile between or among the receiving party&#39;s communications device  160 , the timed ring suppression device  100 , the switches  610  the telecommunications network  620  including AIN componentry, the data network  860  including the gateway  865 , and the calling party&#39;s communications device  605  include a variety of means, including optical transmission of data (e.g., any medium capable of optically transmitting the data), wireless transmission of data (e.g., wireless communications of the data using any portion of the electromagnetic spectrum), and/or fixed-wire transmission of data (e.g., any medium capable of transmitting electrons along a conductor). Fiber optic technologies, spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing), Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services, Infrared, the family of IEEE 802 standards, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) are just some examples of the transmission means. The signaling between the receiving party&#39;s communications device  160 , the timed ring suppression device  100 , the switches  610 , the telecommunications network  620  including AIN componentry, the data network  860  including the gateway  865 , and the calling party&#39;s communications device  605 , however, are well understood in by those of ordinary skill the art and will not be further described. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to apply the principles of this invention to their own network configurations which may differ substantially from the communications system(s) shown in the figures.  
         [0048]     Once a call is placed from the calling party&#39;s communications device  605  to the receiving party&#39;s communications address (e.g., telephone number), the call is routed via switch  610  to telecommunications network  620  as described above. The incoming communication and other communications signals (e.g., ICLID signal) associated with an address of calling party&#39;s communications device  605  arrive at SSP  820 . The SSP suspends processing of the call and queries the SCP  830  to determine whether ring suppression is required. The SCP  830  queries the TRS DataServer  840  for further timed ring suppression profile processing and routing information. The TRS DataServer  840  accesses the database  845  of timed ring suppression profiles to determine if the receiving party&#39;s communications device subscribes to timed ring suppression and/or to obtain other preferences, instructions, files, and/or associated timed ring suppression data. Thereafter, the telecommunications network  620  may enable timed ring suppression via switch  610  to the receiving party&#39;s communications device  160 . For example, the telecommunications network  620  may route the ICLID signal and activate an initial alert to the communications device  160  (according to the matched timed ring suppression profile or default timed ring suppression parameters). Thereafter, the telecommunications network silences subsequent rings (or another subsequent audible alert) according to the matched timed ring suppression profile (or defaults). Alternatively, the telecommunications network  620  may enable timed ring suppression via ISP  750  (or other connection) to the data network  860 . The data network  860  then enables timed ring suppression via the gateway  865  to the receiving party&#39;s IP communications device (e.g., PC  800  and modem  810 ) via switch  610 . Still, another alternative, is for the telecommunications network  620  to transmit controls that enable timed ring suppression directly to the gateway  865  (such as when the timed ring suppression profile associates a static IP address of the receiving party&#39;s IP communications device) to enable timed ring suppression of the receiving party&#39;s communications device via switch  610 . In addition to enabling timed ring suppression profile, the telecommunications network  620  may also connect the calling party&#39;s communications device with the receiving party&#39;s communications device to establish an available connection. That is, when the receiving party is alerted (via the initial alert, the visual alert, and/or a subsequent alert after timed ring suppression) of the incoming communication, the receiving party can answer the incoming communication from the calling party. For example, the receiving party may review the Caller ID after the initial alert and see the lit display panel to know that the call is still on-hook (even though there isn&#39;t a continuous audible alert to indicate availability), and then decide to answer the call to have a conversation with the calling party.  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of a timed ring suppression communications system similar to the communications system disclosed in  FIG. 8 ; however, the timed ring suppression communications system of  FIG. 9  illustrates alternate receiving party&#39;s communications devices  910  that include a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)  911 , an IP phone  912 , a modem  913 , an interactive pager  914 , a global positioning system (GPS)  915 , an MP3/4 player  916 , a digital signal processor (DSP)  917 , an interactive television  918 , and a satellite phone  919 . Regardless of the receiving party&#39;s communications device (reference numerals  160 ,  530 ,  800 ,  810  and  911 - 919 ), the telecommunications network  620  enables timed ring suppression and enables communications with the receiving party&#39;s communications device (including audio, text (e.g., ASCII), video, other digital formats, and combination thereof). Accordingly, the telecommunications network may include and/or be coupled with a multi-protocol communications interface that acts as a gateway to enable timed ring suppression. For example, if the receiving party&#39;s communications device uses the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technique, then timed ring suppression is enable and communications use the Wireless Mark-up Language (WML) as known in the art. The Wireless Mark-up Language (WML) and the WAP technique are known and will not be further described. This is a description of a solution for a specific wireless protocol, such as WAP. This solution may be clearly extended to other wireless protocol, such as i-mode, VoiceXML (Voice eXtensible Markup Language), Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), and other signaling means.  
         [0050]     Some of the embodiments of this invention further provide for caller control systems and methods to override timed ring suppression. For example, the calling party may place an incoming communication to a telephone number of the receiving party&#39;s communications device that has activated timed ring suppression (activated either by way of the customer&#39;s hardware and equipment—the timed ring suppression device  100 —or by way of the communications network—the TRS services of PSTN  620 ). The calling party enters an interrupt code that authorizes interruption or disabling of timed ring suppression and connects the incoming communication while maintaining a continuous alert/indicator of the incoming communication, and, thus overrides suppression of the ringer  150  (or other indicator) according to the timing parameter. The interrupt code entered by the calling party is received in a communications network, such as, for example the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)  620 . Alternatively, the interrupt code may be received by another communications network, such as a mobile switching network, a satellite network, a data communications network (e.g., internet, intranet, and/or extranet), and other networks providing communications. The communications network detects, decodes, and processes the incoming communications signal and the interrupt code with a timed ring suppression profile associated with the receiving party&#39;s communications device. If the communications network verifies authorization to interrupt or disable timed ring suppression, then the incoming communications signal and/or an interrupt timed ring suppression signal are transmitted to the receiving party&#39;s communications device so that the incoming communication is connected and the receiving party&#39;s communications device provides a continuous alert (e.g., ringing) despite the receiving party&#39;s communications device having activated timed ring suppression services (e.g., to silence subsequent alerts of an incoming communication according to a timed parameter). Further, the communications network may send a notification message to the receiving party&#39;s communications device to notify a user that timed ring suppression is interrupted and/or disabled. For example, the notification message may be sent instead of a caller identification message so that a caller identification device or the timed ring suppressor  100  (via screen  300 ) displays “TRS OVERRIDE” to alert the receiving party that the caller has disabled timed ring suppression.  
         [0051]     According to an exemplary embodiment, a caller controlled timed ring suppression system includes a timed ring suppression application communicating with a communications network (such as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) shown are reference numeral  620  in FIGS.  6 ,  8 - 9 ) for detecting, decoding, and communicating an incoming communications signal on a communications link from a calling party&#39;s communications device to a receiving party&#39;s communications device. The timed ring suppression application communicates with the communications network and may further communicate with a communications dataserver (such as TRS DataServer shown as reference numeral  840  in  FIGS. 8-9 ), and a receiving party&#39;s communications device. The timed ring suppression application accesses a timed ring suppression profile that includes a telephone number, a directory name, a date/time identifier, a geographical identifier, a caller control interrupt code, and a timing parameter for suppressing a communications indicator of the receiving party&#39;s communications device after the receiving party&#39;s communications device activates the communications indicator to produce an initial alert of the incoming communications signal. Thereafter, the timed ring suppression application generates a timed ring suppression signal that is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device (and/or to a switch) to suppress subsequent alerts by the communications indicator of the incoming communications signal according to the timed ring suppression profile. Further, the timed ring suppression application further generates an interrupt timed ring suppression signal in response to receiving the caller control interrupt code from a calling party. The interrupt timed ring suppression signal is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device to temporarily disable the timed ring suppression signal such that the communications indicator maintains a continuous, uninterrupted alert of the uninterrupted, on-hook incoming communications signal. According to another exemplary embodiment, a caller controlled timed ring suppression system includes a calling party&#39;s communications device that transmits an incoming communications signal to a communications network, and the communications network communicates the incoming communications signal and/or an interrupt timed ring suppression signal to a receiving party&#39;s communications device. The communications network may process an incoming line identification (ICLID) signal of the incoming communications signal to generate an interrupt timed ring suppression signal and transmit the incoming communications signal and/or the interrupt timed ring suppression signal to the receiving party&#39;s communications device. Further, the interrupt timed ring suppression signal is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device having a timed ring suppressor (externally coupled and/or integrated) and operates to override a timed ring suppressor of a timed ring suppression device such that when the incoming communications signal is communicated to the receiving party&#39;s communications device, the receiving party&#39;s communications device presents a continuous indicator of the incoming communications signal while the communications signal is in an uninterrupted, on-hook state.  
         [0052]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing another exemplary embodiment of the timed ring suppression device similar to the timed ring suppression device of  FIG. 1 ; however the timed ring suppression device of  FIG. 10  includes a system controller  1002 , processor  1004 , memory system  1006  including database  1008  and timed ring suppression management module  1010  (also referred to as the timed ring suppression program), graphics system  1020 , keyboard system  1022 , audio system  1024 , an interface with a ringer of a communications device  1030 , a timed ring suppressor  1040 , a clock  1045 , a wireless communications device transceiver  1050 , a wired communications device port/connection  1055 , and a power source  1060 . The system controller  1002  provides a bridging function between the processor, the graphics subsystem  1020 , the keyboard subsystem  1022 , the audio subsystem  1024 , the memory subsystem  1006 , the timed ring suppressor  1014 , and the interface  1030 . The interface  1030  may include a peripheral bus controller that is an integrated circuit serving as an input/output hub for various peripheral ports. These peripheral ports enable the timed ring suppressor to control and to communicate with a variety of communications devices through Wireless Comm Device Transceiver  1030  (such as Wireless 802.11 and Infrared) and Wired Comm Device Port  1055  (such as modem V90+ and compact flash slots). In addition, the stored one or more timed ring suppression profiles may be stored by local memory system  1006  or by a peripheral storage device (such as TRS DataServer  840  shown in  FIG. 8 ). According to an exemplary embodiment, the Comm Port  1055  may communicate with a communications network (such as reference numeral  520  of  FIG. 5 ) and transmit the timed ring suppression profile. In an alternate embodiment, the Comm Port  1055  may format the timed ring suppression profile for a connected or integrated communications device (via the Wireless Comm Device Transceiver  1050  and/or Wired Comm Device Port/Connection  1055 ), and, the connected or integrated communications device would then initiate communications with the communications network and transmit the timed ring suppression profile (via the connected or integrated communications device). Still, in another alternated embodiment, the interface  1030  may include intelligent componentry that detects or otherwise identifies the receiving party&#39;s communications device and formats or otherwise configures the timed ring suppression profile or enables timed ring suppression for the receiving party&#39;s communications device.  
         [0053]      FIG. 11  is another block diagram of a manually-activated timed ring suppression device that includes the timed ring suppressor  140  and circuit  145  coupled with ringer  150  of telephone  160 . The timed ring suppressor  140  is enabled to open circuit  145  to prevent current/voltage from flowing to the ringer  150 , and, thus, silence subsequent ringing of an uninterrupted on-hook call after the call has initially activated the ringer. For example, the timed ring suppressor  140  could be a punch button that the customer presses after an incoming communication produces an audible alert (e.g., a ring). Thereafter, subsequent ringing is suppressed for a selected timing parameter. For example, if the timing parameter is set at 12 seconds (approximately two ring cycles), then the customer could press the timed ring suppressor  140  to silence the ringer for 12 seconds, and, if the ringing resumed, then press the timed ring suppressor  140  again to silence the ringer for another 12 seconds.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are flowcharts showing processes of providing timed ring suppression according to exemplary embodiments of this invention. While the processes in  FIGS. 12 and 13  are shown in series, these processes may occur in different orders and/or at simultaneous times as one of ordinary skill in the art will understand.  
         [0055]     A customer uses a timed ring suppression device  100  (such as reference numeral  100  of  FIG. 3 ) to access, create, modify, and/or otherwise manage a timed ring suppression profile to enable timed ring suppression [block  1210 ]. Alternatively, the customer could used a communications device and a communications network (such as reference numerals  160  and  620  of  FIG. 6 ) to access, create, modify, and/or otherwise manage a timed ring suppression profile to enable timed ring suppression. Once an incoming communication is detected, the ICLID signal (and/or other reference data of the incoming communication) is decoded [block  1220 ] and compared with one or more timed ring suppression profiles [block  1230 ]. If a timed ring suppression profile matches the ICLID signal, the timed ring suppression profile is used to determine if there is a timing parameter for timed ring suppression [block  1240 ]. If there is a timing parameter, then the next step is to determine if the calling party inputs a timed ring suppression interrupt code to disable timed ring suppression [block  1320 ]. If the calling party does not enter a timed ring suppression interrupt code, then the timing parameter specifies the time period(s) for silencing and/or re-activating the ringer (or other audible alert) of the communications device and the ringer is suppressed according to the timing parameter [block  1330 ] and the call is processed according to other call handling options [block  1340 ]. If the ICLID signal is not matched with a timed suppression profile or if the timed suppression profile does not specify a timing parameter, then the process determines if there are defaults for timed ring suppression [block  1310 ]. If there are defaults for timed ring suppression, then the process still determines if the calling party inputs the timed ring suppression interrupt code [block  1320 ]. If the calling party does not input the timed ring suppression interrupt code, then the default timing parameter specifies the time period(s) for silencing and/or reactivating the ringer (or other audible alert) of the communications device and the ringer is suppressed according to the timing parameter [block  1320 ]. Thereafter, the call is processed according to other call handling options associated with the ICLID signal (or other reference data) of the incoming communication (e.g., voice mail) [block  1340 ]. If there are not defaults for timed ring suppression, then the ringer remains activated (continuous ringing) and the call is connected to the communications device [block  1350 ]. Finally, if the calling party inputs the timed ring suppression interrupt code [block  1320 ], then the interrupt code is verified (by the communications network and/or timed ring suppression device) to override timed ring suppression [block  1360 ] and thereafter, the ringer remains activated (continuous ringing) and the call is connected to the communications device [block  1350 ].  
         [0056]     While several exemplary implementations of embodiments of this invention are described herein, various modifications and alternate embodiments will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the next generation “softswitch” simply replaces the SCP with an “application server.” This application server is a conventional computer server that also includes triggers for telecommunications services so that “new entrants” into telecommunications services (e.g., new telecommunications service providers or even data communications network providers) don&#39;t have to purchase an expensive SSP and/or SCP to process telephone calls. This next-generation packet network represents an alternative operating environment for the network enabled timed ring suppression systems, methods, programs, and apparatuses. Here the telecommunications switch includes a packet-based “softswitch.” This “softswitch” uses software control to provide voice, data, and video services by dynamically changing its connection data rates and protocols types. An application server interfaces with the “softswitch” via a packet protocol, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). This application server includes voice service protocols, triggers, and operations that allow the PSTN and the data network (e.g., the world wide electronic communications network) to interoperate. Still, another example is using the timed ring suppression systems and methods to selectively activate and deactivate subsequent incoming communication indicators (e.g., a vibrator, a lighted panel, a heat sensor, and/or other indicators to alert the customer of an incoming communication) according to the timing parameter. Accordingly, this invention is intended to include those other variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments that adhere to the spirit and scope of this invention.
After a communications device receives an incoming communication and an alert is activated to produce an initial incoming communications alert, the alert of the communications device may selectively be deactivated for subsequent alerts until the initiating party terminates the incoming communication or until the incoming communication is further processed. Further, a caller control override feature enables an originating party to override the deactivation and consequently activate subsequent alerts.