Method and apparatus for providing voice/unified messaging services using CATV terminals

• US 6,732,368 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mavenir Ltd. (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Comverse Limited (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kringel, Shlomi, Michael, Erez
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): NALEVANKO, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/473,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 725/32, 725/34, 725/115, 725/117, 725/109, 379/90.01, 709/200
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

System for providing CATV subscribers an access to a UMS (Unified Messaging System) and/or VMS (Voice Mail System), wherein each subscriber is provided with a TV set connected to the CATV network directly-or-through a set-top box. The system comprises a connection between subscribers of the CATV network and the UMS and/or VMS and an interface for permitting exchange of information between the subscribers and the UTMS and/or VMS and a client software for the UMS and/or VMS, which when the connection is through the set-top box resides on, or is coupled to, the set-top box. The interface may comprise a UMS and/or VMS handler and a CATV network handler for providing data connection between the UMS and/or VMS and the subscribers. The interface may also comprise a multimedia message management interposed between the UMS and/or VMS handler and the CATV network handler.

Claims

1. System for providing CATV subscribers an access to a UMS (Unified Messaging System) and/or VMS (Voice Mail System), wherein each subscriber is provided with a TV set connected to the CATV network directly or through a set-top box, comprising:

a connection between subscribers of the CATV network and the UMS and/or VMS and an interface for permitting an exchange of information between said subscribers and said UMS and/or VMS; and

a client software for the UMS and/or VMS, which when the connection is through the set-top box, resides on, or is coupled to, said set-top box,

wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with other subscribers of the CATV network via the UMS and/or VMS by transmitting information over only the CATV network.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a UMS and/or VMS handler and a CATV network handler for providing data connection between the UMS and/or VMS and the subscribers.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the interface further comprises a multimedia message management interposed between the UMS and/or VMS handler and the CATV network handler.

4. System according to claim 2, wherein the interface further comprises a database for storing subscriber'"'"'s preferences and other parameters.

5. System according to claim 3, wherein the interface further comprises a format server for formatting the display of the information that will appear on the subscriber'"'"'s TV set.

6. System according to claim 1, further comprising input devices for inputting multimedia messages.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein the input devices are chosen from among keyboard means, microphones, electronic cameras, video cameras and, three-dimensional input devices.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein the interface is provided on the CATV network.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the set-top box is connected to the interface.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein the interface is able to send a broadcast message to all of the subscribers of the CATV network.

29. A system according to claim 1, wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with users that are not subscribers of the CATV network utilizing the CATV network and a second communication network.

8. Method for providing CATV subscribers an access to a UMS (Unified Messaging System) and/or VMS (Voice Mail System), wherein each subscriber is provided with a TV set connected to the CATV network directly or through a set-top box, comprising:

providing connecting means for establishing a connection for transmitting digital information from a set-top box residing at the subscriber'"'"'s location to the UMS and/or VMS and vice-versa;

requesting information from the UMS and/or VMS through said connecting means by inputting a request for information into said connecting means; and

processing said request at the UMS and/or VMS and transmitting the requested information through said connecting means,

wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with other subscribers of the CATV network via the UMS and/or VMS by transmitting information over only the CATV network.

9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising converting any information to be transmitted into a form adequate for transmission.

10. Method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying a list of all received messages on the subscriber'"'"'s TV set.

11. Method according to claim 8, further comprising forwarding messages from one subscriber to another.

12. Method according to claim 8, further comprising composing a message at the subscriber'"'"'s location, recording said message by using multimedia means, and transmitting said message to the UMS and/or VMS.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said message comprises multimedia data.

23. A method according to claim 8, wherein the connecting means is located on the CATV network.

27. An method according to claim 23, wherein the connecting means is able to send a broadcast message to all of the subscribers of the CATV network.

30. A method according to claim 8, wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with users that are not subscribers of the CATV network utilizing the CATV network and a second communication network.

14. Apparatus for providing CATV subscribers an access to a UMS (Unified Messaging System) and/or VMS (Voice Mail System), wherein each subscriber is provided with a TV set connected to the CATV network directly or through a set-top box, comprising

an interface for permitting an exchange of information between said subscribers and said UMS and/or VMS, said interface being in cooperation with a client software for the UMS and/or VMS, which, when the connection is through the set-top box, resides on said set-top box or is linked to it,

wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with other subscribers of the CATV network via the UMS and/or VMS by transmitting information over only the CATV network.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a UMS and/or VMS handler and a CATV network handler for providing data connection between the UMS and/or VMS and the subscribers.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a multimedia message management device or software interposed between the UMS and/or VMS handler and the CATV network handler.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a database for storing subscriber'"'"'s preferences and other parameters.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a format server for formatting the display of the information that will appear on the subscriber'"'"'s TV set.

19. Apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising input devices for inputting multimedia messages.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the input devices are chosen from among keyboard means, microphones, electronic cameras, video cameras and three-dimensional input devices.

24. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the interface is provided on the CATV network.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the set-top box is connected to the interface.

28. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the interface is able to send a broadcast message to all of the subscribers of the CATV network.

31. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein subscribers of the CATV network are able to exchange information with users that are not subscribers of the CATV network utilizing the CATV network and a second communication network.