Session initiation protocol enabled set-top device

• US 7,024,461 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Osterhout, Gregory T., Ingle, Trip, Janning, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US09/561,834
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/227, 709/228, 709206-207, 725/106, 725/131, 725/151, 379/900, 705/513
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for handling subscriber services from different sources without requiring interaction with different devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for receiving multimedia services using session initiation protocol (SIP) messages received from a source, such as a server on a network. In one embodiment, a set-top device is provided in which a SIP control is provided to register a subscriber with a server using SIP messages. A connection to a network, such as the Internet, is provided to communicate with the server. The set-top device is placed in line with the audio and video source to control audio and video streams presented to the subscriber. The set-top device is also configured to receive voice calls from a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Further, the set-top device includes a remote control mechanism, such as an infrared (IR) transmitter and receiver to receive input from the subscriber and to control other devices using IR signals. Also, subscriber services customized for a particular subscriber may be directed to the subscriber at a location when the subscriber registers with the server through a set-top device at that location using SIP. Services, such as, for example, call screening, channel guides, video on demand, and Web browsing are provided through the set-top device and messaging with a server using SIP messages.

Claims

1. A multimedia unit comprising:

a session initiation protocol control unit, wherein the session initiation protocol control unit communicates with a server over a packet based network to receive multimedia content; and

a multimedia interface, wherein the multimedia interface sends the multimedia content received by the session initiation protocol control unit to output devices for presentation, wherein the session initiation protocol unit communicates with the server to identify a user of the multimedia unit from a plurality of registered users of the multimedia unit, and wherein the multimedia interface receives multimedia content from the server based on the identification of the user of the multimedia unit;

a processing unit coupled to the multimedia interface and the communication interface, wherein the processing unit determines a type of the multimedia content being sent to the output devices by the multimedia interface, determines if an alert may be output based on the type of the multimedia content, and output an alert if it is determined that an alert may be output based on the type of the multimedia content,

wherein the processing unit

determines a type of the multimedia content,

determines if an alert may be output, and

outputs the alert in response to the multimedia interface receiving at least one of

a call being directed to the multimedia unit,

a message being sent to the multimedia unit, and

a Web page being pushed to the multimedia unit.

2. A multimedia unit comprising:

a session initiation protocol control unit, wherein the session initiation protocol control unit communicates with a server over a packet based network to receive multimedia content; and

a multimedia interface, wherein the multimedia interface sends the multimedia content received by the session initiation protocol control unit to output devices for presentation, wherein the session initiation protocol unit communicates with the server to identify a user of the multimedia unit from a plurality of registered users of the multimedia unit, and wherein the multimedia interface receives multimedia content from the server based on the identification of the user of the multimedia unit;

a processing unit coupled to the multimedia interface and the communication interface, wherein the processing unit determines a type of the multimedia content being sent to the output devices by the multimedia interface, determines if an alert may be output based on the type of the multimedia content, and output an alert if it is determined that an alert may be output based on the type of the multimedia content

wherein the alert is based on a message being sent to the multimedia unit, and wherein if the processing unit determines that an alert cannot be output based on the type of the multimedia content, the processing unit determines if a timeout condition has occurred, and if a timeout condition has occurred, the message is stored for later presentation using the multimedia unit.

3. A set-top device comprising:

first means for sending an identification of a user of the set-top device to a server, wherein a plurality of users of the set-top devices are registered as users of the set-top device;

second sending means for sending a request for content to a server using a connection established with an application layer control protocol;

receiving means for receiving the content from the server through the connection, wherein the content is received from the server based on the identification of the user of the set-top device; and

presenting means for presenting the content on output devices connected to the set-top device

means for determining a type of the content being sent to the output devices;

means for determining if an alert may be output based on the type of the content; and

means for outputting an alert if it is determined that an alert may be output based on the type of the content

wherein the means for determining a type of the content, means for determining if an alert may be output, and means for outputting the alert operate in response to receiving at least one of a call being directed to the set-top device, a message being sent to the set-top device, and a Web page being pushed to the set-top device.

4. A computer program product in a recordable-type computer readable medium for providing services to a set-top device, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for sending an identification of a user of the set-top device to a server, wherein a plurality of users of the set-top device are registered as uses of the set-top device;

second instructions for sending a request for content to a server using a connection established with an application layer control protocol;

third instructions for receiving the content from the server through the connection, wherein the content is received from the server based on the identification of the user of the set-top device; and

fourth instructions for presenting the content on output devices connected to the set-top device

fifth instructions for determining a type of the content being sent to the output devices;

sixth instructions for determining if an alert may be output based on the type of the content; and

seventh instructions for outputting an alert if it is determined that an alert may be output based on the type of the content

wherein the fifth instructions for determining a type of the content, sixth instructions for determining if an alert may be output, and seventh instructions for outputting the alert are executed in response to receiving at least one of a call being directed to the set-top device, a message being sent to the set-top device, and a Web page being pushed to the set-top device.