System and method for screening incoming and outgoing video communications within an interactive television system

• US 7,142,230 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Billmaier, James A., Istvan, Anthony F., Novak, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US09/935,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.01, 348 1403- 1407, 348/14.12, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/142.01, 37914204-14206, 379/124.16, 379/188, 379/199, 379/200, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/196, 379/354
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists. Third parties may also be prompted to accept or reject the video communication requests.

Claims

1. A method for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the method comprising:

intercepting a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request;

notifying a third party concerning the identity of the recipient;

prompting the third party for acceptance of rejection of the video communication request; and

forwarding the video communication request to the recipient in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the the party.

2. The of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

notifying the third party concerning the identity of the caller.

3. The methoed of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to not receiving an indicaticn of acceptance from the third party within an established time interval, blocking the video communication request.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication of rejection from the third party, blocking the video communication request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video communication request is intercepted by an interactive television system of the caller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller and third party are each associated with an interactive television system of the different location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the video communication request includes live video of the caller, and wherein notifying comprises:

sending the live video of the caller to the third party.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the live video is captured by a video camera integrated with an interactive television system of the caller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein accepting comprises:

establishing two-way video communication between the recipient and the caller.

9. The method of 1, wherein notifying comprises:

establishing tempera two-way video communication between the third party and the caller.

11. A method for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the method comprising:

intercepting a video communication request sent a caller to a recipient;

identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request;

determining that the recipient is not identified within a unauthorized recipient list;

notifying a third party concerning the identity of the recipient;

prompting the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

forwarding the video communication request to the recipient in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request; and

notifying the third party concerning the identity of the caller.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to not receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party within an established time interval, blocking the video communication request.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication of rejection from the third party, blocking the video communication request.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

adding an indication of the recipient to an unauthorized recipient list.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the caller and third party are each associated with an interactive television system at a different location.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the video communication request includes live video of the caller, and wherein notifying comprises:

sending the live video of the caller to the third party.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the live video is captured by a video camera integrated with an interactive television system of the caller.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein notifying comprises:

establishing temporary two-way video communication between the third party and the caller.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the unauthorized recipient list is caller-specific, the method further comprising:

identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request; and

locating an unauthorized recipient list to the caller.

21. A system for screening video communication in an interactive television system, the system comprising:

an interception component configured to intercept a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

an identification component configured to identify the recipient using information contained within the video communication request;

a notification component configured to notify a third party concerning the identity of the recipient and to prompt the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

an authorization component configured to forwar the video communication request to the recipient in response to receiving indication of acceptance from the third party.

22. A system for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the system comprising:

an interception component configured to intercept a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

an identification component configured to identify he recipient using information contained within the video communication request;

an authorization component configured to determine that the recipient is not identified within a unauthorized recipient list;

a notification component configured to notify a third party concerning the identity of the recipient and prompt the third part or acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

wherein the authorization component is further configured to forward the video communication request to the recipient in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

23. A system for screening video communications, the system comprising:

p1 means for intercepting a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

means for identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request;

means for notifying a third party concerning the identity of the recipient;

means for prompting the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

means for forwarding the video communication request to the recipient in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from third party.

24. A method for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the method comprising;

intercepting a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

notifying a third party concerning the identity of the caller;

prompting the third party for acceptance rejection of the video communication request; and

accepting the video communication request in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request; and

notifying the third party identity of the recipient.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

in response to not receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party within an established time interval, rejecting the video communication request.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication of rejection from the third party, rejecting the video communication request.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the video communication request is intercepted by an interactive television system of the recipient.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the recipient and third party are each associated with an interactive television system at a different location.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the video communication request includes live video of the caller, and wherein notifying comprises:

sending the live video of the caller to the third party.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the live video is captured by a video camera integrated with an interact&

e television system of the caller.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein notifying comprises:

establishing temporary two-way video communication between the third party and the caller.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein accepting comprises:

establishing two-way video communication between the caller and the recipient.

34. A method for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the method comprising:

intercepting a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

determining that the caller is not identified within a unauthorized caller list;

notifying a third party concerning the identity of the caller;

prompting the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

accepting the video communication request in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request; and

notifying the third party concerning the identity of the recipient.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

in response to not receiving an indication acceptance from the third party within an established time interval, rejecting the video communication request.

37. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

in response to receiving an indication of rejection from the third party, rejecting the video communication request.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

adding an Indication of the caller to an unauthorized caller list.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the recipient and third party are each associated with an interactive television system at a different location.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the video communication request includes live video of the caller, and wherein notifying comprises:

sending the live video of the caller to the, third party.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the live video is captured by a video camera integrated with an interaction television system of the caller.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein notifying comprises:

establishing temporary two-way video communication between the third party and the caller.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the unauthorized caller list is recipient-specific, the method further comprising:

identifying the recipient using information contained within the video communication request; and

locating an unauthorized caller list specific to the recipient.

44. A system for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the system comprising:

an interception component configured to intercept is video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

an identification component configured to identify the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

a notification component configured to notify a third party concerning the identity of the caller and prompt the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

an authorization component configured to acceptance the video communication request in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

45. A system for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the system comprising:

an interception component configured to interception video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

an identification component configured to identify the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

an authorization component configured determine that the caller is not identified within a unauthorized caller list;

a notification component to notify a third party concerning the identity of the caller and prompt the third party fir acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

wherein the authorization component is further configured to accept the video communication request in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.

46. A system for screening video communications in an interactive television system, the system comprising:

means for intercepting a video communication request sent by a caller to a recipient;

means for identifying the caller using information contained within the video communication request;

means for notifying a third party concerning the identity of the caller;

means for prompting the third party for acceptance or rejection of the video communication request; and

means for accepting the video communication request in response to receiving an indication of acceptance from the third party.