METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PROVIDE SERVICE INFORMATION AND ACTIVATE COMMUNICATION SERVICES AT A NETWORK DEMARCATION POINT

• US 20080091793A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward Alan, Smith, Barbara Engel, Diroo, Yolius
• Application Number:
  US11/549,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide service information and activate communication services at a network demarcation point are disclosed. An example method comprises detecting coupling of a subscriber communication device to a network demarcation unit, and automatically providing service information from the network demarcation unit to a user of the communication device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting coupling of a subscriber communication device to a network demarcation unit; and

automatically providing service information from the network demarcation unit to a user of the subscriber communication device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining if the subscriber communication device is associated with an existing communication service.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection from the user; and

automatically activating a communication service associated with the selection to the subscriber communication device.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the communication service is at least one of a telephone service, an Internet service, an access service, a video service, an audio service, or a television service.

6. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein receiving the selection from the user comprises receiving a dual tone multiple frequency signal associated with a key on a keypad of a telephone.

7. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein receiving the selection from the user comprises receiving a user interface selection.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the coupling of the subscriber communication device comprises detecting an off-hook condition.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the coupling of the subscriber communication device comprises receiving a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) request.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing the service information comprises providing an audible message that includes an indication of a keypad button to press to select a communication service.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein providing the service information comprises providing a user interface that includes a selectable element to select a communication service.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising modifying the service information based upon a list of communication services available at the network demarcation point.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the service information includes at least one of an advertisement for a communication service, a communication service feature, a communication service availability, or a communication service cost.

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23. A network demarcation unit comprising:

a service module to detect coupling of a communication device, and to provide service information to a user of the communication device; and

a connector to couple the communication device to the service module.

24. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the service module is configured to:

receive a selection corresponding to a selected communication service from the user; and

activate the selected communication service.

25. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the service module is configured to:

make a determination whether the communication device is associated with a communication service; and

to adjust the service information based on the determination.

26. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 25, wherein the service module further comprises a subscription table that stores an indication whether the communication service is active at the communication device.

27. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the communication device is a telephone, and wherein the service module comprises a voice module, the voice module comprising:

an off-hook detector to detect the coupling of the communication device by detecting an off-hook state of the telephone; and

an interactive voice response system to provide the service information by playing an audible message to the telephone and to receive a user selection from the telephone.

31. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the communication device is an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device, and wherein the service module comprises a web module, the web module comprising:

a domain host control protocol (DHCP) server to detect the coupling of the communication device by receiving a DHCP request from the IP-enabled device; and

a web server to provide the service information by providing a user interface screen to the IP-enabled device and to receive a user selection from the IP enabled device.

32. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 31, wherein the service module further comprises a voice module, and wherein the web module is configured to initiate a DTMF signal to provide the user selection to the voice module.

33. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the network demarcation unit is a network interface demarcation (NID).

34. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the network demarcation unit is an optical network terminal (ONT).

38. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the communication device is at least one of a personal computer, a set-top box, a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device, a telephone, a display device, a router or a residential gateway.

39. A network demarcation unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the communication service is at least one of a telephone service, an Internet service, an access service, a video service, an audio service, or a television service.

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40. An article of manufacture storing machine accessible instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

detect coupling of a subscriber communication device to a network demarcation unit; and

automatically provide service information from the network demarcation unit to a user of the subscriber communication device.

41. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine if the subscriber communication device is associated with an existing communication service.

42. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

receive a selection from the user; and

automatically activate a communication service associated with the selection to the subscriber communication device.

46. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to detect the coupling of the subscriber communication device by detecting at least one of an off-hook condition or a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) request.

47. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to provide the service information by providing an audible message that includes an indication of a keypad button to press to select a communication service.

48. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine by instructions, when executed, cause the machine to provide the service information by providing a user interface that includes a selectable element to select a communication service.

49. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 40, wherein the machine by instructions, when executed, cause the machine to modify the service information based upon a list of communication services available at the network demarcation point.

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