System for providing IP video telephony

• US 20060029051A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tech Licensing LLC, Viseon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tech Licensing LLC
• Inventors: Willey, H. Michael, Wilkinson, Michael R., Cardenas, Rene M., Lickliter, Jason A., Shirley, Brad Stacy, Harris, John C., Lehmann, Guenter Hanfried, Fichtner, CC
• Application Number:
  US11/194,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• 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: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• 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: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A system for providing interactive data services to a home voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VIOP) user includes a plurality of broadband information appliances. A host server is in communication with the broadband information appliances via a network. At least one media server is in communication with the host server via the network and fulfills requests for media and services from the plurality of broadband information appliances through the host server.

Claims

1. A system for providing interactive data services to a home user comprising:

a plurality of video telephones;

a host server in communication with the video telephones via an IP network; and

at least one media server in communication with the host server via the network and adapted to fulfill requests for media and services from the plurality of video telephones through the host server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the host server is adapted to interact with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and provide communication between the PSTN and the plurality of video telephones.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one media server is adapted to interact with one or more additional media servers to obtain media and services necessary to fulfill requests from the plurality of video telephones.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of video telephones operates as an IP video telephone providing audio and video communication through the host server to at least one additional IP video telephone.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a database associating one or more of the plurality of video telephones with a physical location of the one or more of the plurality of video telephones.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the host server is adapted to accept requests from the plurality of video telephones through voice commands.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an interactive messaging system coupled to the host server and adapted to provide messaging services to the plurality of video telephones.

8. An Internet Protocol (IP) based communication system comprising:

at least one host server configured to provide voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services to a plurality of IP video telephones; and

at least one media server configured to provide media data to the host server;

wherein the host server is configured to respond to requests from the plurality of IP video telephones for media data by requesting the media data from the at least one media server and providing the media data to a requesting video IP telephone.

9. The IP based communication system of claim 8 wherein the host server is further configured to process the media data before providing it to the requesting IP video telephone.

10. The IP communication system of claim 8 wherein the host server is further configured to provide access by the IP video telephones to interactive services from the at least one media server.

11. The IP communication system of claim 8 wherein the host server is configured to provide voice access between the plurality of IP video telephones and a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

12. The IP communications system of claim 8 wherein the host server is configured to provide messaging services to the plurality of IP video telephones.

13. The IP communications system of claim 8 further comprising a message server configured to provide interactive messaging services to the plurality of IP video telephones.

14. The IP communications system of claim 8 wherein the host server is configured to provide audiovisual communications between at least two IP video telephones of the plurality of IP video telephones.

15. The IP communications system of claim 8 wherein the host server is configured to provide access a live operator through to the plurality of IP video telephones.

16. The IP communications system of claim 8 wherein the host server is configured to accept request for services from the plurality of IP video telephones based on a predetermined code.

17. A method of providing media data to a home user of an Internet broadband information appliance, the method comprising:

accepting a request for media services from a household voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VOIP) user;

contacting a first media server to obtain content to fulfill the request; and

delivering the content to the VOIP user in fulfillment of the request.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

contacting a second media server to obtain additional content to fulfill the request;

combining content from the first and second media servers before delivering the content to the VOIP user.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing location information corresponding to the location of a VOIP appliance associated with the VOIP user to a service provider.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising retaining the data from the media server for delivery to the VOIP user upon request for delivery by the VOIP user.