METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

• US 20070209054A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cassanova, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/537,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209054A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6402 Address allocation for clients address allocation in data networks H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for providing communications services to Internet Protocol-enabled devices associated with a subscriber are provided. The method includes creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber. The communications service includes one or more of a(n): electronic messaging, local video-on-demand, channel-based content, and Internet-based content. The method also includes delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, comprising:

creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of;

electronic messaging,

local video-on-demand,

channel-based content, and

Internet-based content; and

delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address;

wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:

setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;

removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and

providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

storing video content received from the subscriber; and

receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;

transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and

storing the selection in the account;

wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.

8. A system for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, comprising:

a computer processing device; and

a communications service features application executing on the computer processing device, the communications service features application performing a method, comprising;

creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of;

electronic messaging,

local video-on-demand,

channel-based content, and

Internet-based content; and

delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address;

wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:

setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;

removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and

providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

storing video content received from the subscriber; and

receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;

transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising storing destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and

storing the selection in the account;

wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.

15. A computer program product for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of;

electronic messaging,

local video-on-demand,

channel-based content, and

Internet-based content; and

delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address;

wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:

setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;

removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and

providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

storing video content received from the subscriber; and

receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;

transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content;

wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel;

wherein destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account are stored.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:

receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and

storing the selection in the account;

wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.