Definition of "ringtone"

voltage generator ringtone for installation in terminal stations of telephone communication systems for carrier wave

1975, LQ Krasin, RD Mccallum, Ringing generator for telephone station terminal - US Patent 3,886,321

The transducers used to measure cavity dynamic pressure and reed dynamic displacement are calibrated before each test, the ringtone oscillator assembly produces a sinusoidal driving pressure, with at most, a few small harmonics.

1980, Journal of Mechanical Design, page 229

Introduces LT1684, a ringtone-generator integrated circuit (IC) for telephone systems from Linear Technology in California. Elimination of need for optoisolators; Function of active multipole filter within the IC; Adjustment of cadence, frequency and amplitude information;

1999, B. Schweber, “Telephony Tone Generator Rings Long Loops”, in Reed Business Information

The source and destination nodes may be equipped with ringtone-generation engines to generate ringtones. Each of the ringtones includes at least one audible tone.

2009, J Kates, R Miller, System and method for providing calling-party identification and/or calling-party or called-party ringback services - US Patent 7,602,901

So even if the primary purpose of a ringtone is to notify the user of an incoming call, the effect of a ringtone played in public cannot be ignored if the reason users choose ringtones is, in part, in order to impress others .

2004, The Entertainment and Sports Lawyer; Volume 22

This actually downloads the ringtone onto your handheld and displays a screen allowing you to save it, shown in Figure 8.12.

2005, Bill Foust, Mobile Guide to BlackBerry, page 121121

There's only music so that there's new ringtones

2006, Alex Turner (lyrics and music), “A Certain Romance”, in Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, performed by Arctic Monkeys

Using simple audio tools in the iTunes program, you could buy a song for $1, choose a 30-second chunk, pay $1 more for the ringtone, and sync the result to your iPhone.

2012, David Pogue, iPhone: The Missing Manual, page 152

My handheld ringtoned “Happy Days are Here Again.” I withdrew into a quieter corner of Mahogany Bar and stuck a finger in my other ear.

2015, Herb Borkland, DOG$, page 15

The cell reception is less than zero here, but my phone was ringtoning away. I did not like the sound of that.

2019, Arthur Slade, Amber Fang (Books 1-3): Boxed Set