MULTIMEDIA PROCESSING RESOURCE WITH INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE

• US 20100162331A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James, Belz, Steven M., Sullivan, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 21/42203 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 21/43637 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A multimedia processing resource (MPR) includes interactive voice response capabilities. A user may control MPR commands and functions over a telephone interface. For example, through a telephone connection a user may receive a listing of electronic programming guide data, may schedule a multimedia program for recording, or may receive a report related to a multimedia program that is viewed at the present time.

Claims

1. A multimedia processing resource (MPR) comprising:

a network interface for receiving multimedia content from a multimedia content distribution network;

a decoder for producing data based on the received multimedia content to a program presentation device;

a voice input interface;

a tangible computer readable medium with processor executable instructions including;

voice session module instructions for receiving voice input;

interactive voice response module instructions for recognizing a command received from the voice input; and

command conversion module instructions for translating the recognized command to an MPR command.

2. The MPR of claim 1, wherein said voice input interface is a telephone interface.

3. The MPR of claim 2, wherein said voice session module instructions include instructions for receiving a telephone call.

4. The MPR of claim 2, wherein said interactive voice response module instructions include instructions for recognizing telephone based tone commands.

5. The MPR of claim 2, wherein said interactive voice response module instructions include instructions for recognizing dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

6. The MPR of claim 1, wherein said interactive voice response module instructions include instructions for:

storing a received voice print;

determining whether the received voice print matches a stored voice print; and

responsive to a match based on said determining, executing a recognized command for the received voice print.

7. The MPR of claim 1, wherein the network interface is an IP network interface.

8. The MPR of claim 7, wherein the network interface includes a wireless interface.

9. The MPR claim 1, wherein said voice session module instructions include instructions for performing an Internet protocol based communication session.

10. The MPR of claim 9, wherein said performing includes establishing a session initiation protocol session.

11. The MPR of claim 1, wherein said voice session module instructions include caller identification instructions for identifying a caller.

12. The MPR of claim 11, further including:

user settings module instructions for storing voice recognition data for the identified caller.

13. The MPR of claim 1, wherein the MPR command is at least one of scheduling a recording, reviewing a scheduled recording, identifying a currently viewed multimedia program, changing a lock status of the MPR, changing a channel, adjusting a video quality of a multimedia program presentation, and adjusting an audio volume of a multimedia program presentation.

14. The MPR of claim 1, wherein said interactive voice response module instructions include instructions for providing speech output representative of electronic programming guide data.

15. A process for controlling a multimedia processing resource (MPR), the process comprising:

answering a call request;

routing the call request using an identifier associated with the MPR;

establishing the call with the MPR;

receiving an MPR control request using one of voice recognition and dual-tone multi-frequency signaling.

16. The process of claim 15, further comprising:

prompting a caller to request at least one of reviewing a scheduled recording and setting up a new recording schedule.

17. The process of claim 15, further comprising:

prompting a caller to request at least one of accessing electronic program guide information and searching for multimedia programs.

18. The process of claim 15, further comprising:

prompting a caller to request identifying a multimedia program currently viewed.

19. The process of claim 15, further comprising:

prompting a caller to request changing a lock status of the MPR.

20. The process of claim 15, further comprising:

prompting a caller to request at least one of adjusting an audio volume of a multimedia program presentation, adjusting an image quality of a multimedia program presentation, and changing a channel.

21. The process of claim 15, wherein routing the call request includes routing the call request using an Internet protocol address associated with the MPR.

22. The process of claim 15, wherein the MPR identifier is a telephone number extension.

23. A service for controlling a multimedia processing resource (MPR), the service comprising:

receiving an auditory command over a telephone communication path;

determining whether the auditory command is a voice command or a dual-tone multi-frequency signaling command;

interpreting the auditory command; and

executing an MPR command based on the interpreted auditory command.

24. The service of claim 23, wherein the telephone communication path includes a voice over Internet protocol network.

25. The service of claim 23, wherein the telephone communication path includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN).