METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MERGING VOICE AND DATA FEATURES WITH INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION

• US 20090187956A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: SOMMER, JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• 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 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method and apparatus that enable the use of a multi-service endpoint device to integrate features and functions of voice and/or data services with IPTV service through a TV console are disclosed. For example, the method connects a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of the plurality of networks provides a voice service, and where at least one of the plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The method then integrates the voice service with the IPTV service using the MSED.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of services, comprising:

connecting a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides a voice service, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service; and

integrating said voice service with said IPTV service using said MSED.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of networks comprises at least two of:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an Internet network, a cellular network, and an IPTV service network.

3. The method of claim 1, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides a data service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said MSED is connected to a television (TV) console.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said integrating voice service comprises:

displaying caller information associated with an incoming call on said TV console; and

providing a plurality answering options to be selected by a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said integrating voice service further comprises:

muting or lowering a volume of an ongoing video programming when said incoming call is answered by said user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of answering options comprises at least two of:

a deny option for forwarding said incoming call to a voice mail system;

an answer option to allow said user to speak to a caller of said incoming call;

a closed caption answer option to allow said user to read spoken words on said TV console from said caller using a voice to text translation;

or

an announcement answer option to provide an announcement message to said caller.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein one or more of said plurality of answering options are selectable by said user via a remote control or a wireless keyboard device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said integrating voice service comprises:

receiving called party phone number information associated with a called party from a user; and

initiating an outgoing call to said called party.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said called party phone number information is received via a remote control device having a set of dialing keys, a wireless keyboard device, or a remote control device using point and click operations on a television (TV) console.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said integrating voice service further comprises:

receiving a type of telephony service to be used for initiating said outgoing call.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said integrating voice service further comprises:

muting or lowering a volume of an ongoing video programming when said outgoing call is placed by said user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said integrating data service comprises:

detecting an activation of a text messaging session;

receiving an outgoing text message destined for a recipient; and

sending said outgoing text message to said recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said integrating data service further comprises:

displaying an incoming text message on a television (TV) console.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said text messaging session comprises a Simple Text Messaging (SMS) session or an Instant Messaging (IM) text messaging session.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing a plurality of services, comprising:

connecting a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides a voice service, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service; and

integrating said voice service with said IPTV service using said MSED.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said plurality of networks comprises at least two of:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an Internet network, a cellular network, and an IPTV service network.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said MSED is connected to a television (TV) console.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein said integrating voice service comprises:

displaying caller information associated with an incoming call on said TV console; and

providing a plurality answering options to be selected by a user.

20. An apparatus for providing a plurality of services, comprising:

means for connecting a multi-service endpoint device (MSED) to a plurality of networks, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides a voice service, where at least one of said plurality of networks provides an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service; and

means for integrating said voice service with said IPTV service using said MSED.