Session initiation protocol enabled set-top device

• US 20060174022A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockstar Consortium US LP (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Inventors: Ingle, Trip, Osterhout, Gregory T., Janning, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for handling subscriber services from different sources without requiring interaction with different devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for receiving multimedia services using session initiation protocol (SIP) messages received from a source, such as a server on a network. In one embodiment, a set-top device is provided in which a SIP control is provided to register a subscriber with a server using SIP messages. A connection to a network, such as the Internet, is provided to communicate with the server. The set-top device is placed in line with the audio and video source to control audio and video streams presented to the subscriber. The set-top device is also configured to receive voice calls from a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Further, the set-top device includes a remote control mechanism, such as an infrared (IR) transmitter and receiver to receive input from the subscriber and to control other devices using IR signals. Also, subscriber services customized for a particular subscriber may be directed to the subscriber at a location when the subscriber registers with the server through a set-top device at that location using SIP. Services, such as, for example, call screening, channel guides, video on demand, and Web browsing are provided through the set-top device and messaging with a server using SIP messages.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A method for providing services to a set-top device, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol;

receiving a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

responsive to receiving the message, generating a menu for display on a display connected to the set-top device, wherein the menu provides call information for the caller and provides selection on handling the call; and

responsive to an input, selectively processing the call.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the input is to forward the call and wherein the step of selectively processing the call comprises sending the message to the server to forward the call using the application layer control protocol.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the input is to cancel the call and wherein the step of selectively processing the call comprises an absence of a message answering the call.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein output devices are connected to the set-top device, wherein the input is to answer the call, and wherein the step of selectively processing the call comprises:

sending the message to the server using the application layer control protocol; and

routing the call through the set-top device to at least one output device connected to the set-top device.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

registering a subscriber with the server at the set-top device, wherein calls for the subscriber are routed to the set-top device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of registering occurs when the subscriber uses the set-top device.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the application layer control protocol enabled application is a Session Initiation Protocol enabled application.

42-55. -55. (canceled)

56. A set-top device comprising:

establishing means for establishing a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol;

receiving means for receiving a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

generating means, responsive to receiving the message, for generating a menu for display on a display connected to the set-top device, wherein the menu provides call information for the caller and provides selection on handling the call; and

processing means, responsive to an input, for selectively processing the call.

57. The set-top device of claim 56, wherein the input is to forward the call and wherein the processing means of selectively processing the call comprises sending the message to the server to forward the call using the application layer control protocol.

58. The set-top device of claim 56, wherein the input is to cancel the call and wherein the processing means of selectively processing the call comprises an absence of a message answering the call.

59. The set-top device of claim 56, wherein output devices are connected to the set-top device, wherein the input is to answer the call, and wherein the processing means of selectively processing the call comprises:

sending means for sending the message to the server using the application layer control protocol; and

routing means for routing the call through the set-top device to at least one output devices connected to the set-top device.

60. The set-top device of claim 56 further comprising:

registering means for registering a subscriber with the server at the set-top device, wherein calls for the subscriber are routed to the set-top device.

61. The set-top device of claim 60, wherein the registering means occurs when the subscriber uses the set-top device.

62. The communications device of claim 56, wherein the application layer control protocol enabled application is a Session Initiation Protocol enabled application.

63-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for providing services to a set-top device, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for establishing a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol;

second instructions for receiving a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

third instructions, responsive to receiving the message, for generating a menu for display on a display connected to the set-top device, wherein the menu provides call information for the caller and provides selection on handling the call; and

fourth instructions, responsive to an input, for selectively processing the call.

75-76. -76. (canceled)