Multimedia public communication services distribution method and apparatus with distribution of configuration files

• US 6,141,684 A
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Jansen, Bernard Gerald, Isgro, Nick, Judd, James Marshall, Fielding, Bruce Allen, Hillson, Andrew Raines, McDonald, John Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOULES, JACK M
• Application Number:
  US08/928,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104, 379/91.01, 705/40, 705/52, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/08 specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

An apparatus and method for distributing multimedia services. The apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting for receipt by at least one device a multimedia configuration file for configuring at least one device to present multimedia services to a user.

Claims

1. A method of distributing multimedia services, the method comprising:

transmitting, for receipt by at least one device, a multimedia configuration file for configuring said at least one device to present multimedia services to a user;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information such that when said at least one device receives a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service, said at least one device initiates said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiates a corresponding service usage task.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia file from an internet provider, for use at said at least one device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting said file to said at least one device by a private network.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising transmitting for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia content file for providing multimedia content for annunciation at said at least one device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising transmitting for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia file from an internet provider, for use at said at least one device.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising receiving, at a central server, said multimedia file from an internet provider and performing said transmitting at said central server.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising maintaining a database of database files including configuration files for various device configurations.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein maintaining said database comprises maintaining in said database at least one of:

a) hypertext markup language pages for interacting with a browser at said at least one device;

b) programs for execution by said at least one device;

c) local credit card information for validating credit cards used at said at least one device;

d) billing information files relating to services rendered at said at least one device; and

e) statistics files relating to services rendered at said at least one device.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising maintaining a database of content files for providing content for annunciation at said at least one device.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising including advertising content in said content files.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising defining respective pipes for communicating hypertext markup language (HTML) files and program files, configuration and content files, and request and reply messages respectively to and from said at least one device.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising receiving said request messages and transmitting said reply messages at a transaction server at a central server, said transaction server being in communication with said database.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising transmitting said configuration and content files from a file server at said central server, said file server being in communication with said database.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising transmitting said HTML files and said program files from a web server at said central server, said web server being in communication with said database.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising placing said transaction server in communication with a rating system and a credit card service.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information such that when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, said at least one device generates a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

17. An apparatus for distributing multimedia services, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting, for receipt by at least one device, a multimedia configuration file for configuring said at least one device to present multimedia services to a user;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information such that when said at least one device receives a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service, said at least one device initiates said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiates a corresponding service usage task.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia file from an internet provider, for use at said at least one device.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a private network, said transmitter and said at least one device being connected to said private network.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia content file for providing multimedia content for annunciation at said at least one device.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit for receipt by said at least one device a multimedia file from an internet provider, for use at said at least one device.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 further comprising a receiver for receiving said multimedia file from an internet provider and for providing said multimedia file to said transmitter for transmission to said at least one device.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a database of database files including configuration files for various device configurations.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a database of content files for providing content for annunciation at said at least one device.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said database comprises at least one of:

a) hypertext markup language (HTML) pages for interacting with a browser at said at least one device;

b) programs for execution by said at least one device;

c) local credit card information for validating credit cards used at said at least one device;

d) billing information files relating to services rendered at said at least one device; and

e) statistics files relating to services rendered at said at least one device.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 further comprising respective pipes for communicating hypertext markup language (HTML) files and program files, configuration and content files, and request and reply messages respectively to and from said at least one device.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a transaction server in communication with said database for receiving said request messages and for transmitting said reply messages.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 further comprising a file server in communication with said database for transmitting said configuration and content files.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further comprising a web server in communication with said database for transmitting said HTML files and program files to said at least one device.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further comprising a rating system and a credit card service in communication with said transaction server for receiving billing rate information and credit card information for use by said at least one device.

31. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information such that when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, said at least one device generates a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

32. A method of providing multimedia services at a multimedia terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration file for configuring said multimedia terminal to provide multimedia services;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information;

storing, in said multimedia terminals said configuration file; and

initiating, when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 further comprising receiving a content file for providing content for annunciation at said multimedia terminal.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33 further comprising producing a display image at said multimedia terminal in response to said content file.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising automatically producing a display image at said multimedia terminal when said multimedia terminal is not in use.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising automatically producing a display image at said multimedia terminal when a telephone on said multimedia terminal is in use.

37. A method as claimed in claim 33 further comprising making a web browser available to a user, said web browser being operable to transmit uniform resource locators to a web server located remotely of said multimedia terminal, in response to user selection made at said multimedia terminal and receiving at least one hypertext markup language (HTML) page from said web server in response to at least one of said uniform resource locators and producing a display in response to said HTML page.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising producing a display image at said multimedia terminal in response to said content file during an access time between transmission of said at least one of said uniform resource locators and producing said display in response to said HTML page.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information said method further comprising:

generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 39 further comprising a telephone on said multimedia terminal.

45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 44 wherein said content file comprises a display file and wherein said multimedia terminal comprises a telephone idle program for automatically producing a display image from said display file, at said multimedia terminal, when said telephone is in use.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a multimedia terminal having;

a receiver for receiving a configuration file for configuring said multimedia terminal to provide multimedia services;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information;

memory for storing, in said multimedia terminal, said configuration file; and

a processor for initiating, when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40 further comprising a configuration program for configuring said multimedia terminal according to said configuration file.

42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 40 wherein said receiver is operable to receive a content file for providing content for annunciation at said multimedia terminal.

43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 further comprising a display image program for producing a display image at said multimedia terminal in response to said content file.

46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 further comprising an idle program for automatically producing a display image at said multimedia terminal when said multimedia terminal is not in use.

47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 46 further comprising a web browser operable to transmit uniform resource locators to a web server located remotely of said multimedia terminal, in response to user selection made at said multimedia terminal and for receiving at least one hypertext markup language (HTML) page from said web server in response to at least one of said uniform resource locators and producing a display in response to said HTML page.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47 wherein said idle program is operable to produce a display image at said multimedia terminal in response to said content file during an access time between transmission of said at least one of said uniform resource locators and production of said display in response to said HTML page.

49. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information said processor generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

55. The method of claim 40 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information said method further comprising:

generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

50. A method of distributing multimedia services, the method comprising:

transmitting from a transmitter to at least one device a multimedia configuration file for configuring said at least one device to present multimedia services to a user;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information;

receiving said configuration file at said at least one device;

storing in said at least one device, said configuration file; and

initiating when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

51. A method as claimed in claim 50 further comprising transmitting said configuration file on a private network, to said at least one device.

52. A method as claimed in claim 51 further comprising transmitting a multimedia content file from at least one of a plurality of computers on said private network to said transmitter for transmission to said at least one device.

53. A method as claimed in claim 51 further comprising transmitting a database file from at least one of a plurality of computers on said private network to said transmitter, for transmission to said at least one device.

54. A method as claimed in claim 53 further comprising transmitting said configuration file from at least one of said computers to said transmitter, for transmission to said at least one device.

56. An apparatus for distributing multimedia services, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a multimedia configuration file;

said multimedia configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information; and

a multimedia terminal having;

a receiver for receiving said configuration file from said transmitter; and

memory for storing in said multimedia terminal, said configuration file; and

a processor for initiating, when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

57. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56 further comprising a private network in communication with said transmitter and said receiver for communicating messages between said transmitter and said receiver.

58. An apparatus as claimed in claim 57 wherein said private network comprises a plurality of computers in communication with each other, at least one of said computers having said transmitter.

59. An apparatus as claimed in claim 58 wherein at least one of said computers has database files, and wherein at least one of said database files is operable to be transmitted to said transmitter for transmission to said multimedia terminal.

60. An apparatus as claimed in claim 58 wherein at least one of said computers has said configuration file and wherein said at least one of said computers transmits said configuration file to said transmitter for transmission to said multimedia terminal.

61. An apparatus as claimed in claim 58 wherein at least one of said computers has a multimedia content file and wherein said at least one of said computers transmits said multimedia content file to said transmitter for transmission to said multimedia terminal.

62. The apparatus of claim 56 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information;

said processor generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

63. A method of providing multimedia services, the method comprising:

receiving, from a transmitter, a multimedia configuration file for configuring said at least one device to present multimedia services to a user;

said configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information;

storing said configuration file; and

initiating, when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information said method further comprising:

generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.

65. A multimedia terminal for providing multimedia services, the multimedia terminal comprising:

a receiver for receiving a multimedia configuration file;

said multimedia configuration file including at least one service record associated with a respective multimedia service identification code, said multimedia service identification code corresponding to a respective multimedia service;

said at least one service record including service identification information and service type information;

memory for storing said configuration file; and

a processor for initiating, when a request by a customer for said respective multimedia service is received, said respective multimedia service as a function of said service identification information and initiating a corresponding service usage task.

66. The apparatus of claim 65 wherein said at least one service record includes service rate information said processor generating, when said at least one device initiates said corresponding service usage task, a charge amount associated with said respective multimedia service as a function of a usage time of said respective multimedia service and as a function of said service rate information.