Methods and systems for delivering yellow pages content to a media delivery device

• US 20060100980A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reed, James Keith, Pumpelly, John
• Application Number:
  US10/974,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories

Abstract

A directory channel broadcasts or otherwise communicates an electronic communications directory to a media delivery device for presentment, storage, and/or integration with other directory content. The media delivery device may include an integrated multimedia device, such as an audiovisual (AV) device. Alternatively, the media delivery device and the AV device may be stand-alone devices such as an STB coupled or otherwise connected with a TV.

Claims

1. A media delivery device, comprising:

an electronic communications directory having a directory listing of at least one directory name with a communications address, the directory name further associated with at least one of an identification category and a physical address; and

a directory services module for accessing and managing directory content of the electronic communications directory for presentation to a multimedia device.

2. The media delivery device of claim 1, wherein the directory services module is further operable for creating the directory listing and a profile of one or more search parameters associated with a selection for the directory listing.

3. The media delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving communications signals to a wireless device.

4. The media delivery device of claim 3, the wireless device comprising a remote control device for remotely interfacing with the media delivery device.

5. The media delivery device of claim 2, wherein a media file is presented to the multimedia device simultaneously with the electronic communications directory.

6. The media delivery device of claim 2, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of:

a mobile phone,

a cellular phone,

a WAP phone,

a satellite phone

a computer,

a modem,

a pager,

a personal digital assistant,

an interactive television,

a digital signal processor,

an appliance, and

a Global Positioning System device.

7. The media delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

an input terminal for inputting information to the directory service module.

8. The media delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a network connection for transmitting and receiving the directory signals between the media delivery device and an external network.

9. The media delivery device of claim 1, wherein the directory listing comprises one of a yellow pages directory listing, a white pages directory listing, and an electronic mail directory.

10. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic communications directory, the electronic communications directory having a directory listing of at least one directory name with a communications address, the directory name further associated with at least one of an identification category and a physical address;

storing the electronic communications directory to a media delivery device; and

presenting the electronic communications directory to a multimedia device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a search parameter for searching the electronic communications directory to select a directory listing, the search parameter comprising at least one of the directory name, the identification category, and a geographic area associated with the physical address;

selecting the directory listing having a matched search parameter; and

presenting the selected directory listing to the multimedia device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

simultaneously presenting a media file to the multimedia device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to search a remote database for information associated with the selected directory listing;

retrieving the remotely stored information;

presenting the remotely stored information to the multimedia device; and

storing the remotely stored information to the media delivery device, the remotely stored information having a link to the associated directory listing.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the directory listing comprises at least one of a yellow pages directory listing, a white pages directory listing, an electronic mail directory, and a directory listing created by a subscriber.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

simultaneously presenting a broadcast stream with the electronic communications directory to the multimedia device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to create a new directory listing;

retrieving a directory listing profile to present to the media delivery device;

receiving data to populate the directory listing profile, the data transmitted from an input device communicating with the media delivery device; and

storing the new directory listing to a selected electronic communications directory.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to modify data of the directory listing;

retrieving and presenting a profile of the data of the directory listing to the media delivery device;

receiving modified data to update the directory listing, the modified data transmitted from an input device communicating with the media delivery device; and

storing the modified directory listing to a selected electronic communications directory.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

limiting access to one or more directory listings of the electronic communications directory.

19. A storage medium on which is encoded instructions for performing the following steps of:

receiving an electronic communications directory, the electronic communications directory having a directory listing of at least one directory name with a communications address, the directory name further associated with at least one of an identification category and a physical address;

storing the electronic communications directory to a media delivery device; and

presenting the electronic communications directory to a multimedia device.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a search parameter for searching the electronic communications directory to select a directory listing, the search parameter comprising at least one of the directory name, the identification category, and a geographic area associated with the physical address; and

selecting the directory listing having a matched search parameter; and

presenting the selected directory listing to the multimedia device.

21. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a request to search a remote database for information associated with the selected directory listing;

retrieving the remotely stored information;

presenting the remotely stored information to the multimedia device; and

storing the remotely stored information to the media delivery device, the remotely stored information having a link to the associated directory listing.

22. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a request to create a new directory listing;

retrieving a directory listing profile to present to the media delivery device;

receiving data to populate the directory listing profile, the data transmitted from an input device communicating with the media delivery device; and

storing the new directory listing to a selected electronic communications directory.

23. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a request to modify data of the directory listing;

retrieving and presenting a profile of the data of the directory listing to the media delivery device;

receiving modified data to update the directory listing, the modified data transmitted from an input device communicating with the media delivery device; and

storing the modified directory listing to a selected electronic communications directory.