STB messaging system

• US 20080281926A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirby, John, Raftelis, Michael, Walter, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

There are provided a method, a system and a machine-readable medium for video terminal device messaging. In one embodiment, a method includes querying a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the querying.

Claims

1. A method for video terminal device messaging, the method comprising:

querying a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and

selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the querying.

2. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 1, wherein:

querying includes querying the user associated with the mobile device whether to receive the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a set top box; and

selectively receiving includes selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the set top box based on the response to the querying.

3. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 1, further comprising displaying the received one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.

4. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a response message to at least one received mobile message; and

transmitting the response message from the video terminal device destined to at least one sending device associated with the at least one received mobile message.

5. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 1, further comprising forming a wireless network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device.

6. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 5, wherein forming the wireless network connection includes:

detecting the mobile device within an operational range of the video terminal device;

identifying the mobile device, including the mobile device'"'"'s electronic serial number (ESN) and wireless carrier system to which the mobile device is registered;

transmitting a connection request from the video terminal device to the mobile device;

receiving a connection response including connection information from the mobile device in response to the connection request; and

connecting the video terminal device to the mobile device using the connection information.

7. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 5, wherein querying further includes querying the user as to whether to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from a wireless carrier system serving the mobile device to the video terminal device, or whether to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device.

8. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a user selection to redirect the one or more mobile messages; and

transmitting a redirect request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device.

9. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting whether the mobile device is connected to the network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device; and

selectively transmitting a cancel request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to cancel redirection of the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device if mobile device is not connected.

10. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a user selection to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device; and

transmitting a synch request from the video terminal device to the mobile device; and

receiving the one or more mobile messages from the mobile device at the video terminal device in response to the synch request.

11. A system for video terminal device messaging, the system comprising:

a message handler module to query a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and

a message receipt module to selectively receive the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the query.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the video terminal device is a set top box.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a display module to display the one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a message generation module to generate a response message to at least one received mobile message; and

a message transmission module to transmit the response message from the video terminal device destined to at least one sending device associated with the at least one received mobile message.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a connection module to form a wireless network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising

a detection module to detect the mobile device within an operational range of the video terminal device;

an identification module to identify the mobile device, including the mobile device'"'"'s electronic serial number (ESN) and wireless carrier system to which the mobile device is registered;

a connection module to transmit a connection request from the video terminal device to the mobile device, receive a connection response including connection information from the mobile device in response to the connection request, and connect the video terminal device to the mobile device using the connection information.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the message handler module queries the user as to whether to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from a wireless carrier system serving the mobile device to the video terminal device, or whether to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the mobile device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a message redirect module to receive a user selection to redirect the one or more mobile messages, and transmit a redirect request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a detection module to detect whether the mobile device is connected to the network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device, wherein the message redirect module selectively transmits a cancel request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to cancel redirection of the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device if mobile device is not connected.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a message synch module to receive a user selection to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device, and transmit a synch request from the video terminal device to the mobile device, wherein the message receipt module receives the one or more mobile messages from the mobile device at the video terminal device in response to the synch request.

21. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the machine for video terminal device messaging, the instructions causing the machine to:

query a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and

selectively receive the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the query.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein instructions to query and selectively receive further comprise instructions causing the machine to:

query the user associated with the mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a set top box; and

selectively receive the one or more mobile messages at the set top box based on the response to the querying.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions causing the machine to display the one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

generate a response message to at least one received mobile message; and

transmit the response message from the video terminal device destined to at least one sending device associated with the at least one received mobile message.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions causing the machine to form a wireless network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein instructions to form the network connection further include instructions causing the machine to:

detect the mobile device within an operational range of the video terminal device;

identify the mobile device, including the mobile device'"'"'s electronic serial number (ESN) and wireless carrier system to which the mobile device is registered;

transmit a connection request from the video terminal device to the mobile device;

receive a connection response including connection information from the mobile device in response to the connection request; and

connect the video terminal device to the mobile device using the connection information.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein instruction to query further include instructions causing the machine to query the user as to whether to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from a wireless carrier system serving the mobile device to the video terminal device, or whether to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the mobile device.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

receive a user selection to redirect the one or more mobile messages; and

transmit a redirect request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to redirect the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

detect whether the mobile device is connected to the network connection between the video terminal device and the mobile device; and

selectively transmit a cancel request from the video terminal device to the wireless carrier system to cancel redirection of the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device from the wireless carrier system to the video terminal device if mobile device is not connected.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions causing the machine to:

receive a user selection to synchronize the one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device; and

transmit a synch request from the video terminal device to the mobile device; and

receive the one or more mobile messages from the mobile device at the video terminal device in response to the synch request.

31. A method for redirecting a mobile message, the method comprising:

receiving a mobile message from at least one sending device destined for a mobile device; and

selectively transmitting the received mobile message to a video terminal device based on a redirect request from the video terminal device.

32. The method for redirecting a mobile message of claim 31, wherein selectively transmitting includes:

querying a database for a redirect entry relating to redirecting mobile messages destined for the mobile device;

retrieving addressing information associated the video terminal device from the redirect entry if the redirect entry is stored in the database; and

transmitting the received mobile message to the video terminal device using the associated addressing information.

33. A wireless carrier system for redirecting a mobile message, the wireless carrier system comprising a messaging module to:

receive a mobile message from at least one sending device destined for a mobile device; and

selectively transmit the received mobile message to a video terminal device based on a redirect request from the video terminal device.

34. The wireless carrier system for redirecting a mobile message of claim 33, wherein the messaging module is further to:

query a database for a redirect entry relating to redirecting mobile messages destined for the mobile device;

retrieve addressing information associated the video terminal device from the redirect entry if the redirect entry is stored in the database; and

transmit the received mobile message to the video terminal device using the associated addressing information.

35. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the machine for redirecting a mobile message, the instructions causing the machine to:

receive a mobile message from at least one sending device destined for a mobile device; and

selectively transmit the received mobile message to a video terminal device based on a redirect request from the video terminal device.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein instructions causing the machine to selectively transmit include instructions to:

query a database for a redirect entry relating to redirecting mobile messages destined for the mobile device;

retrieve addressing information associated the video terminal device from the redirect entry if the redirect entry is stored in the database; and

transmit the received mobile message to the video terminal device using the associated addressing information.

37. A method for video terminal device messaging, the method comprising:

transmitting a request from a video terminal device to a mobile device to synchronize one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device; and

selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device from the mobile device in response to the request.

38. The method for video terminal device messaging of claim 37, further comprising displaying the received one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.

39. A system for video terminal device messaging, the system comprising:

a synchronization module to transmit a request from a video terminal device to a mobile device to synchronize one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device; and

a receipt module to selectively receive the one or more mobile messages from the mobile device in response to the request.

40. The system for video terminal device messaging of claim 39, further comprising a display module to display the received one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.

41. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the machine for redirecting a mobile message, the instructions causing the machine to:

transmit a request from a video terminal device to a mobile device to synchronize one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device with the video terminal device; and

selectively receive the one or more mobile messages from the mobile device in response the request.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising instructions causing the machine to display the received one or more mobile messages on a display device associated with the video terminal device.