Voice over IP receiver assisted call control

• US 20040261115A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integra5 Communications Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Integra5 Communications Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartfeld, Eyal
• Application Number:
  US10/870,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system for viewing of selected telephone call parameters and optionally controlling phone calls at a subscriber receiving location, having a telephony-television gateway (TTG) coupled to a public television distribution system, for displaying call information on a display device associated with a subscriber. A VoIP enabled receiver (VER) installed at the subscriber premises, and adapted to receive an incoming telephone conversation and call control data from a call processor. The VER is adapted to send call control data to a predetermined TTG. The TTG is receive said call control data from the VER, and send information to cause display of selected portions of the call control data on the display device. The most common call control data to be displayed is information identifying the calling party (Caller ID or CID), or the telephone number of the originating telephone, or a combination thereof. Other information may include call time, specific indications related to the caller, as well as advertisement, and the like.

The invention allows for interconnection between VOIP telephony and television display of call parameters and optionally call control activities, using television, without requiring the direct coupling between a call processor and a telephony-television interface, as the connection occurs via the VER. The invention therefore simplifies the customization required for a direct coupling of a TTG and telephony service in a VOIP environment.

Claims

1. A system for viewing of selected telephone call parameters and controlling phone calls, comprising:

at least one Voice Over Internet Protocol enabled receiver, located at a subscriber premises;

a display device coupled to a television distribution network;

a TTG (Telephony-Television Gateway) located remotely to said subscriber premises, and being in communication with said receiver, the TTG being further coupled with said display device via said network;

wherein said TTG is capable of receiving information related to a telephony session from said Receiver and transfer said information, or a portion thereof, to said display device.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said TTG is coupled to a telephony call processor.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said TTG is constructed to receive user commands from a user, and direct said commands to said telephony call processor.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said commands are selected from a group consisting of commands to disconnect a telephony session, commands to direct a telephony session to voice mail, commands to direct the telephony session to a specific telephone, commands to play a message to a caller, or a combination thereof.

5. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said TTG is coupled, or contains, a voice mail system, and wherein the TTG is adapted to transmit content of a voice message recorded by said voice mail system to said display device.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the TTG is further adapted to transmit said content while said voice message is being recorded.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said TTG is further adapted to instruct said telephony system to redirect a session to said receiver or to an alternative receiver, or to an alternative telephony device, responsive to a user command.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an input device for receiving input from a user.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said display device is a television coupled to a set-top box.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said receiver is housed in said set-top box.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a cable modem.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a computer.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display device is a computer.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display device is a video monitor.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said TTG is adapted to send commands to said receiver

16. A system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said commands comprise a command to initiate a telephone call.

17. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said TTG is further adapted to display advertisements on said display device.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said display of advertisement is combined with the display of said information.

19. A Voice Over Internet Protocol Enabled Receiver, comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive packets containing telephony call information comprising voice data and call control data, said receiver further adapted to convert the voice data into an audio signal suitable for reproduction on a telephony device;

an IP transmitter adapted to receive voice from said telephony device and convert said voice into outgoing voice data packets, and transmit said outgoing packets;

a control data transmitter module adapted to, directly or indirectly, send said call control data, or a portion thereof, to a remote TTG (Telephony-Television Gateway) adapted to cause displaying of at least a portion of said call control data on a display device.

20. A TTG (Telephony-Television Gateway) comprising:

a connection module couplable to a plurality voice over internet protocol enabled receivers, and receive session related information from at least one of said receivers;

a display transmission module couplable to a television distribution network having a plurality of addressable remote display devices via a television distribution network; and

logic, implemented in hardware or in software, adapted to transfer said session related information or a portion thereof, from said connection module to said display transmission module for transmission to at least one selected display device, via said network.

21. A TTG as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a content generation module adapted to convert said information into a format appropriate for transmission to said selected display device prior to transmitting the converted information or a portion thereof.

22. A TTG as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a database module, adapted to query a database for correlation between said receiver and at least one display devices.

23. A TTG as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a content generation module adapted to convert said information into a format appropriate for transmission to said selected display device prior to transmitting the converted information or a portion thereof; and

,

a database module, adapted to query a database for correlation between said receiver and at least one display devices.

24. A TTG as claimed in claim 20 further adapted to display advertisement information on the display device, combined with said information.

25. A TTG as claimed in claim 21 further adapted to display advertisement information on the display device, combined with said information.

26. A TTG as claimed in claim 23 further adapted to display advertisement information on the display device, combined with said information.

27. A TTG as claimed in claim 26 wherein said advertisement is selected to conform to a profile associated with said receiver or said display device.

28. A TTG as claimed in claim 20 further adapted receive commands from a user and transfer said commands to a telephony call processor.

29. A TTG as claimed in claim 20 further adapted to receive commands from a user and to transfer said commands to said receiver.

30. A method for providing VoIP based telephone call control to a subscriber, the method comprises the steps of:

at a subscriber premises, receiving packets comprising call control data in a VOIP enabled receiver;

transmitting said packets or a portion thereof to a predetermined central telephony-television gateway (TTG) coupled to a television or data distribution network; and

,

from said gateway, sending a signal adapted to cause display of said call control information or a portion thereof on a display device at said user premises, preferably via said television distribution network.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said signal is transmitted via said network.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the step of receiving commands from a user, and using said commands to direct operations at a call processor.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein said commends are selected from a group consisting of commands to disconnect a telephony session, commands to direct a telephony session to voice mail, commands to direct the telephony session to a specific telephone, commands to play a message to a caller, or a combination thereof.

34. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the steps of:

recording a voice-mail message; and

,

relaying the content of said message to said display device.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said step of relaying is performed while said message is being recorded.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

redirecting a telephony session in the process of voice mail recording to said receiver, or to an alternative receiver or to a telephony device, in response to a user command.

37. A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said display device is a television coupled to a set-top box.

38. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said receiver is housed in a set-top box.

39. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said receiver is a cable modem.

40. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said receiver is a computer.

41. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the step of sending commands from said TTG to said receiver.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41 wherein said command being sent to said receiver instructs the receiver to initiate a telephone call.

43. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the step of displaying advertisement on said display device.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein said advertisement is combined with the display of said call control information.

45. A method as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of selecting said advertisement in accordance with a profile associated with said display device or with said receiver.

46. A method as claimed in claim 30 further comprising the step of converting said call control information into a format appropriate for transmission to said display device.

47. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said call control information comprises information about the calling telephone number.

48. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein said call control information comprises information about the identity of the calling party.