SYSTEMS, METHODS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING PRESENCE BASED SERVICES

• US 20090113481A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Friedman, Lee G.
• Application Number:
  US12/208,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing presence-based services are disclosed. A method includes collecting information relating to devices at a subscriber entity. The information includes one or more of: device characteristics, an identity of a user of a first device, and type of content or services currently active on the first device. The identity is determined through authentication. The method also includes transferring content or services currently exhibited on the first device to a second device upon determining the user is no longer active on the first device and is active and authenticated on the second device. The content or services is transferred in a format corresponding to the type of content or services and device characteristics of the second device.

Claims

1. A method for providing presence-based services, comprising:

collecting information relating to devices at a subscriber entity, the information including one or more of;

device characteristics, an identity of a user of a first device, and type of content or services currently active on the first device, the identity determined through authentication; and

transferring content or services currently exhibited on the first device to a second device upon determining the user is no longer active on the first device and is active and authenticated on the second device, the content or services transferred in a format corresponding to the type of content or services and device characteristics of the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notification to the second device in response to the authentication of the user at the second device, the notification prompting the user to select from options including;

maintaining the content or services on the first device simultaneously with the content or services transferred to the second device; and

discontinuing the content or services on the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a default service is provided upon the user selecting none of the options.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the default service represents content or services currently active on the second device absent the transfer of content or services from the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an incoming call from a third device; and

upon determining the target of the incoming call is directed to the user of the first device, presenting the incoming call at the first device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the devices include at least one of:

a cellular telephone;

a personal computer;

a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-enabled telephone; and

a set top box of an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled television.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device characteristics include at least one of:

network bandwidth capability; and

video resolution capability.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber entity is a member of a household.

9. A method for providing authentication for users of presence based services, comprising:

determining whether a device has been registered for receiving the presence based services, comprising;

accessing a list of device identifiers registered with a user account; and

searching the list for a device identifier associated with the device;

if present, retrieving the device identifier and sending an entitlements key associated with the device identifier to the device;

if not present, prompting a user at the device to register the device; and

upon successful registration and authentication of the device, providing presence based services to the device, the presence based services include using the device identifiers and the identities determined through authentication to provide content to the respective devices based upon the entitlements.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the presence based services further include discontinuing presentation of content that is active on one of the devices and initiating presentation of the content on another of the devices when it is determined that a user of one of the devices becomes authenticated on another of the devices and the type of content available on the other of the devices is within the entitlements granted by the entitlement key.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the registration includes:

prompting the user to enter a user name and password;

creating a message that combines the username, password, and the device identifier; and

updating the user account with the message to reflect the registration.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the user account is stored on the device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the device includes at least one of:

cellular telephone;

a personal computer;

a set top box of an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled television; and

a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-enabled telephone.

14. A method for providing communication services to users of a subscription to a service based on assigned user rights, comprising:

providing a default administrator with access to the communication services based on assigned rights, wherein the default administrator has at least as many rights of any user of the communication services;

providing an administrator with access to the communication services based on assigned rights for usage determined by the default administrator;

providing various other users individual rights to usage of the communication services;

collecting information relating to devices at a subscriber entity, the information including identities of users of the devices and type of content available on the devices, the identity determined through authentication; and

discontinuing a communication service that is active on one of the devices and initiating the communication service on another of the devices when it is determined that a user of the active communication service becomes authenticated on the other of the devices and the type of content available on the other of the devices is within the assigned access rights for the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the assigned administrator has the same rights of usage to the communication services as the default administrator.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the default administrator is a subscriber to the communication services.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication services provided to the various other users are based on at least one of entitlements, allowances, parental control, access times, restricted access, and user customizable settings.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the default administrator assigns the rights to usage of the communications services to the assigned administrator.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the default administrator assigns the rights to usage of the communication services to the various other users.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the various other users include a default user having rights based on a defined user with the least rights assigned.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication services are provided responsive to a user logging in, and if no user logs in, communication services provided are those assigned to the default user.