Call management via television
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A telephony television gateway apparatus operational in conjunction with a television distribution network, a telephony switch, and a messaging server for recording messages from a telephony network, the apparatus comprising:
- a call information receiver for receiving session information from said telephony switch or messaging server;
a correlator for associating the session information with an associated set-top box coupled to said television distribution network;
an audio interface for receiving audio data from said messaging server, said audio data corresponding to a message, while said message is being recorded;
an audio encoder coupled to said audio interface, for encoding said audio data received therefrom into a television broadcast compatible format to form television encoded audio; and
transmission equipment coupled to said audio encoder and for transmitting said television encoded audio via said television distribution network to said associated set top box, wherein said transmission occurs during the time said message is being recorded.
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Abstract
A telephone call management system and method are disclosed, allowing for call review where a voice mail message being recorded for a specific telephone may be played on a television associated therewith during the time it is being recorded. Optionally, the call may further be retrieved and rerouted to the user telephone responsive to a command entered via the television distribution gateway, and any call may be recorded responsive to commands entered via the gateway.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A telephony television gateway apparatus operational in conjunction with a television distribution network, a telephony switch, and a messaging server for recording messages from a telephony network, the apparatus comprising:
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a call information receiver for receiving session information from said telephony switch or messaging server; a correlator for associating the session information with an associated set-top box coupled to said television distribution network; an audio interface for receiving audio data from said messaging server, said audio data corresponding to a message, while said message is being recorded; an audio encoder coupled to said audio interface, for encoding said audio data received therefrom into a television broadcast compatible format to form television encoded audio; and transmission equipment coupled to said audio encoder and for transmitting said television encoded audio via said television distribution network to said associated set top box, wherein said transmission occurs during the time said message is being recorded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for call management using a television, after a user rejects an incoming telephone call and said incoming telephone call is being directed to a messaging server, the method comprising the steps of:
- Responsive to user commands,
receiving from said messaging server audio data corresponding to a message being recorded in the messaging server; encoding said audio data into a television broadcast transmission format to form television encoded audio; and
,transmitting said television encoded audio via a television distribution network to said television associated with said user to which the message is directed, while said message is being recorded. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- Responsive to user commands,
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18. A method for call management using a television, comprising the steps of:
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directing an incoming telephone call to a telephone associated with a user; displaying on the television associated with said user, information related to said incoming call; routing said incoming call to a messaging server if said users declines to pick up said incoming call, or said incoming call was unanswered during a predetermined period, thereby forming a messaged call; recording a message by said messaging server; and
,coupling said message to said television, while said message is being recorded; said step of coupling comprising the steps of; receiving audio data from said messaging server, said audio data corresponding to said message, while it is being recorded; encoding said audio data into a television broadcast compatible format to form television encoded audio; and
,transmitting said television encoded audio via a television distribution system, to said associated television while said message is being recorded. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification