Method for association between telephony and television network equipment

• US 20060107299A1
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: MediaFriends Incorporated
• Inventors: Bartfeld, Eyal, Keinan, Giora, Gal-Oz, Nimrod
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device is provided. A set-top box requests an identification code from a server. The server identifies the set-top box, generates the code and transmits it to the set-top box. The set-top box displays the code and a user transmits the code back to the server via a telephony device. The server identifies the telephony device, and using the code, associates between the set-top box and the telephony device.

Claims

1. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a code request from a set-top box having an address;

identifying the set-top box address;

associating the code with the set-top box address;

sending a code to the set-top box, for displaying the code to a user;

receiving the code from a telephony device having an address associated therewith;

identifying the telephony device address;

using the code, associating the address of the set-top box with the address of the telephony device.

2. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the displayed code is transmitted by the user.

3. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the telephony device is a private branch exchange, a central home gateway device, a cable modem or an Internet Protocol telephone device.

4. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying the telephone number is carried out automatically.

5. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of identifying the telephony device address is carried out using a telephone caller identification method.

6. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the address of the telephony device is a telephone number.

7. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning the telephony device a telephone number.

8. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting the telephone number to the set-top box.

9. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting the telephone number to the telephony device.

10. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set-top box is embedded in a wireless device.

11. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set-top box is satellite television enabled.

12. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the set-top box and the telephony device are coupled to a single distribution network.

13. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telephony device is a telephone.

14. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telephony device is a cellular telephone.

15. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telephony device is an MTA.

16. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending code request from an addressable set-top box;

receiving a code;

displaying the code a user;

having a user to transmit the code utilizing an telephony device having an address associated therewith, for associating the set-top box with the telephony device.

17. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 further comprising the step of sending an address of the set-top box.

18. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the set-top box is equipped with a software agent adapted to perform the steps of sending, receiving and displaying.

19. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the software agent initiates the step of sending responsive to a user activation.

20. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the software agent is activated automatically or remotely.

21. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the step of displaying further comprises instructions for transmitting the code.

22. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the telephony device is a telephone.

23. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the telephony device is a cellular telephone.

24. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the telephony device is a MTA.

25. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the telephony device and the set-top box are coupled to a single distribution network.

26. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the telephony device address is a telephone number.

27. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a code request from an addressable set-top box located at a user premises;

in a server, identifying the set-top box address;

generating a code;

associating the code with the set-top address; and

transmitting the code to the set-top box;

displaying the code;

using a telephony device having an address associated therewith, transmitting the code to the server;

at the server, identifying the telephony device address; and

using the code, associating the telephony device with the set-top.

28. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the telephony device is a private branch exchange, a central home gateway device, or an Internet Protocol telephone device.

29. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the telephony device is a telephone.

30. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the telephony device is a cellular telephone.

31. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the telephony device is a MTA.

32. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the telephony device and the set-top box are coupled to a single distribution network.

33. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the distribution network is selected from a group consisting of a telephone network, an electrical distribution network, a data distribution network, a cable television distribution network, a wireless distribution network, a cellular distribution network, a satellite distribution network, and a terrestrial distribution network.

34. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the step of identifying the telephone number is carried out automatically.

35. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 34 wherein the step of identifying the telephony device address is carried out using a telephone caller identification method.

36. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the address of the telephony device is a telephone number.

37. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the set-top box is embedded in a wireless device.

38. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the set-top box is satellite television enabled.

39. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the step of sending further comprises the step of sending the address of the set-top box.

40. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the set-top box is equipped with a software agent adapted to perform the steps of sending, receiving and displaying.

41. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 40 wherein the software agent initiates the step of sending responsive to a user activation.

42. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 40 wherein the software agent is activated automatically or remotely.

43. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the step of displaying further comprises instructions for transmitting the code.

44. A method for user assisted association between a television and a telephony device as claimed in claim 27 wherein the server is adapted to detect the address of the set-top box automatically.