System and method for utilizing push to talk while watching television

• US 20060218597A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: FitzGerald, Cary W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a system and method of managing a Push To Talk (PTT) conversation while the recipient is watching television. PTT messages may be conveyed by an initiator to a recipient through the use of a telephone connected to a network. The network is also connected to either a set top box (STB) or a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Within the network resides a presence state machine, which determines if a PTT conversation may be initiated. Upon initiation of a PTT conversation the presence state machine may pause the television by a command to the STB or DVR. If the television has been paused, upon termination of the PTT conversation, the presence state machine instructs the STB or DVR to resume television display.

Claims

1. A presence state module for enabling push to talk communication between an initiator and a recipient, while said recipient is watching television, comprising:

a first module operatively connected to a set top box or a digital video recorder;

a data store operatively connected to said first module for the purpose of receiving presence data from said first module; and

a second module operatively connected to said data store and a recipient telephone, said second module determining if said recipient will accept a push to talk communication via said recipient telephone.

2. The presence state module of claim 1 wherein said data store comprises data on whether said recipient wishes to receive push to talk communication.

3. The presence state module of claim 1 wherein said data store comprises data indicating if said recipient desires to have television viewing paused during a push to talk communication.

4. The presence state module of claim 1 wherein said data store comprises data on the current channel said recipient is viewing.

5. The presence state module of claim 4 wherein said data store further comprises a list of television programs which may or may not be interrupted for a push to talk communication.

6. The presence state module of claim 1 wherein said data store further comprises either or both of a whitelist or a blacklist to aid in determining if a request for push to talk communication may be accepted or rejected.

7. A presence state module for enabling push to talk communication between an initiator and a recipient, while said recipient is watching television, comprising:

means for providing a first module operatively connected to a set top box or a digital video recorder;

means for providing a data store of presence data operatively connected to said first module; and

means for providing a second module operatively connected to said data store and a recipient telephone, said second module further comprising means for determining if said recipient will accept a push to talk communication via said recipient telephone.

8. The presence state module of claim 7 further comprising means for utilizing said first module to store in said data store, data on whether said recipient wishes to receive push to talk communication.

9. The presence state module of claim 7 further comprising means for utilizing said first module to store in said data store, data on the current channel said recipient is viewing;

and means for utilizing said first module to store in said data store, a list of television programs which may or may not be interrupted for a push to talk communication.

10. The presence state module of claim 7 further comprising means for utilizing said first module to store in said data store, either or both of a whitelist or a blacklist to aid in determining if a request for push to talk communication may be accepted or rejected.

11. A method for enabling push to talk communication between an initiator and a recipient, while said recipient is watching television, comprising the steps of:

associating said recipient with a presence state module, said associating providing an indication if said recipient is willing to receive push to talk communication or not and storing said indication in a data store;

upon validating a push to talk communication, based upon data in said data store, connecting with a recipient telephone to establish said push to talk communication.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of storing in said data store an indication if said recipient desires to have television viewing paused during a push to talk communication.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of storing in said data store the current channel said recipient is viewing.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of storing in said data store a list of television programs which may or may not be interrupted for a push to talk communication.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of storing in said data store either or both of a whitelist or a blacklist to aid in determining if a request for push to talk communication may be accepted or rejected.

16. A computer readable medium for enabling push to talk communication between an initiator and a recipient, while said recipient is watching television, comprising:

instructions for associating said recipient with a presence state module, said instructions for association providing an indication if said recipient is willing to receive push to talk communication or not and storing said indication in a data store;

instructions for upon validating a push to talk communication, based upon data in said data store, connecting with a recipient telephone to establish said push to talk communication.

17. The medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for storing in said data store an indication if said recipient desires to have television viewing paused during a push to talk communication.

18. The medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for storing in said data store the current channel said recipient is viewing.

19. The medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for storing in said data store a list of television programs which may or may not be interrupted for a push to talk communication.

20. The medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for storing in said data store either or both of a whitelist or a blacklist to aid in determining if a request for push to talk communication may be accepted or rejected.