Method and apparatus for selecting and displaying multi-media messages
First Claim
1. A television messaging gateway for handling messages, said gateway being adapted to operate in conjunction with a television distribution system having a central location connected to a video downstream network constructed to carry video signals and distribute said signals to a plurality of terminals connected thereto,wherein at least one of said terminals is constructed to selectively display said video signal on a television screen, and an upstream network capable of delivering user input signals from a remote location to said central location, wherein said television messaging gateway is adapted for operating in conjunction with a messaging server constructed to store and forward messages and is implemented in part at a central location and in part in a user premises, said television messaging gateway comprising:
- a message control interface adapted to couple to said messaging server for controlling at least one message therein, said message having address information associated therewith, to associate said message with at least one user, wherein the messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, and the messaging server reads the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number and further requests the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database;
a video output module for generating video frame signals corresponding to said message or a portion thereof, wherein said module is adapted to couple to the downstream network for outputting said video frame signals on a television coupled to an addressable terminal at the default subscriber location or other subscriber locations;
an input device interface adapted to connect to said upstream network for receiving user input signals inputted using a telephone;
logic for directing said message between said message control interface and said video output module; and
,logic for displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for remote viewing of selected messages at a subscriber remote receiving location, the apparatus including at least one messaging server (such as, but not limited to, a unified messaging system, voice-mail system, fax server system, or any other message store and management system) and a television set as an output device for messages stored or displayed by the messaging server, and a television messaging gateway coupling the messaging server to the television set.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A television messaging gateway for handling messages, said gateway being adapted to operate in conjunction with a television distribution system having a central location connected to a video downstream network constructed to carry video signals and distribute said signals to a plurality of terminals connected thereto,
wherein at least one of said terminals is constructed to selectively display said video signal on a television screen, and an upstream network capable of delivering user input signals from a remote location to said central location, wherein said television messaging gateway is adapted for operating in conjunction with a messaging server constructed to store and forward messages and is implemented in part at a central location and in part in a user premises, said television messaging gateway comprising: -
a message control interface adapted to couple to said messaging server for controlling at least one message therein, said message having address information associated therewith, to associate said message with at least one user, wherein the messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, and the messaging server reads the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number and further requests the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database; a video output module for generating video frame signals corresponding to said message or a portion thereof, wherein said module is adapted to couple to the downstream network for outputting said video frame signals on a television coupled to an addressable terminal at the default subscriber location or other subscriber locations; an input device interface adapted to connect to said upstream network for receiving user input signals inputted using a telephone; logic for directing said message between said message control interface and said video output module; and
,logic for displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A television messaging gateway for handling messages, said gateway being adapted to operate in conjunction with a television distribution system having a downstream network constructed to carry signals and distribute said signals to a plurality of terminals connected thereto, wherein said television messaging gateway is implemented in part at a central location and in part in a user premises, wherein at least one of said terminals is constructed to selectively display an image corresponding to said signal on a television screen, operating in conjunction with an upstream network constructed to deliver user input signals, and further operating in conjunction with a messaging server, said television messaging gateway comprising:
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an input device interface being adapted to couple to said upstream network for receiving input signals; a message control interface responsive to said input signals, for controlling at least one message having address information associated therewith, to associate said message with at least one user, wherein the messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, and retrieving the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number, wherein the messaging server further requests the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database; logic for displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed; and
,an output module, adapted to generating video frame signals corresponding to said message, the module further being adapted to couple to said downstream network, and constructed to deliver said signal to a terminal corresponding to said address information, for display on a television set coupled thereto, wherein said signals cause a progress bar on said television screen to display relative progress of an audio or a video message delivered to said terminal; wherein said message control interface is constructed to control said message responsive to the user input signals, wherein said user input signals are entered via a telephone. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for handling messages comprising the steps of:
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using a telephone, inputting commands to a television messaging gateway, to select at least one message directed to a user; causing said television messaging gateway to output a in response to said commands to a messaging server, for outputting said message via a television distribution system on a television set associated with said user, wherein said television is coupled directly or indirectly to said messaging gateway, wherein the messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, for reading the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number and requesting the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database; wherein said television messaging gateway is implemented in part at a central location and in part in the user premises; and
,the method further comprising displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for handling messages adapted to operate in conjunction with a television distribution system having a downstream network constructed to carry signals and selectively distribute said signals to a plurality of terminals connected thereto, wherein at least one of said terminals is constructed to selectively display an image corresponding to said signal on a television screen, operating in conjunction with an upstream network constructed to deliver user input signals to a central location, the system comprising:
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a distributed television messaging gateway, having a message control interface for selecting at least one message from a unified messaging server, said message having address information associated therewith, to associate said message with at least one user, wherein the unified messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, and for reading the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number and for requesting the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database, wherein said message control interface is constructed to select said message responsive to said user input signals entered via a telephone, and said system is adapted to feed a video frame signal corresponding to said message into said downstream network; wherein said video frame signal is directed to at least one of said terminals, for display on a television set coupled thereto; wherein said television messaging gateway is implemented in part at a central location and in part in an user premises, and comprises logic for displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed; and
,wherein said signals cause a progress bar on said television screen to display relative progress of an audio or video message delivered to said terminal. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification