SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SET-TOP BOX RECORDING

• US 20100169944A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goergen, Mike, Emerson, David, Lafreniere, Gary, Rondeau, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,215,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44245 Monitoring the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. its availability, bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an integrated set-top box for recording a voice communication and/or a voicemail. In one embodiment, the integrated set-top box automatically detects communications associated with a monitored communication line and records and stores the voice communications in a data storage unit of the integrated set-top box. In another embodiment, the integrated set-top box may provide voicemail capabilities in addition to other features.

Claims

1. A set-top box comprising:

memory for storing computer executable instructions;

a data storage unit for storing recorded voice communications and recorded media content files;

a line monitoring module for detecting a connected call on a communication line; and

a processing unit for executing the computer executable instructions to record a voice communication occurring over the communication line in response to detecting the connected call.

2. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to replay a portion of the voice communication using the speakers of a coupled television device.

3. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to replay a portion of the voice communication while continuing to record the voice communication.

4. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to replay a portion of the voice communication over the communication line.

5. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to transmit an audio file of the voice communication to a user-specified e-mail address.

6. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to store a caller ID associated with a second party of the voice communication.

7. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to provide a user interface that enables a user to scroll through a list of recorded voice communications.

8. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to provide a user interface that enables a user to search for a particular voice communication using a search term.

9. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to provide a user interface that enables a user to add a brief description to a recorded voice communication.

10. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to parse the voice communication to enable a user to search for specific terms spoken during the voice communication.

11. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to record a voice mail in response to not detecting the connected call on the communication line within a specified period of receiving an incoming call.

12. The set-top box of claim 11, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to transmit the voice mail to a user specified email address.

13. The set-top box of claim 11 wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to notify a user of a new voice voicemail.

14. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer executable instructions to provide a user interface that displays a list of selectable voicemails on a television screen.

15. A computer implemented method for recording a voice communication on a set-top box, the computer implemented method comprising:

monitoring a communication line to detect a connected phone call;

recording the audio associated with the connected phone call; and

storing the audio in a data storage unit associated with the set-top box.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

capturing the caller identification associated with the connected phone call; and

storing the caller identification along with the audio in the data storage unit.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a list of recorded voice communications on a display unit coupled to the set-top box; and

responsive to receiving a user selected voice communication from the list of recorded voice communications, playing the user selected voice communication using audio output speakers of the display unit.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring the communication line to determine whether an incoming call is answered within a specified time;

responsive to the a determination that the incoming call is not answered within the specified time, playing a voicemail greeting; and

recording and storing a voicemail message in the data storage unit associated with the set-top box.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising providing a user interface for searching for a particular recorded voice communication.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 15, further comprising decoding a television signal to display a television program on a display unit associated with the set-top box.