Method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals

• US 8,024,764 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Pearson, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US11/688,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 725/106, 725/111, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 379/221.11, 379/457, 370/493, 370/546
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device. The adjunct device can have a controller element that receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB, monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal, and presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device, comprising:

a first port for connecting the adjunct device to the STB via a first hardwire connection;

a second port for connecting the adjunct device to the media device via a second hardwire connection;

a third port for connecting the adjunct device to the media device via a third hardwire connection;

a controller element that;

receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB;

monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal; and

presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored,

wherein the adjunct device comprises a separate unit which is operative to integrate services supplied between the media device and the STB.

2. The adjunct device of claim 1, further comprising a fourth port for connecting the adjunct device to the Internet, wherein the media device comprises at least one among a television unit, and an audio unit.

3. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the telephony signal comprises one among a packet-switched signal and a circuit-switched signal, each transporting at least one among image and audio data.

4. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the IPTV multimedia signal comprises at least one among image and audio data.

5. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the controller element exclusively presents at the media device the IPTV multimedia signal in response to detecting no call origination activity in the telephony signal.

6. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the controller element:

detects call origination activity in the telephony signal;

generates a multiplexed signal comprising at least a portion of the telephony signal and the IPTV multimedia signal; and

presents the multiplexed signal at the media device.

7. The adjunct device of claim 6, wherein the multiplexed signal comprises an overlay of images corresponding to a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the telephony signal and a media program associated with the IPTV multimedia signal.

8. The adjunct device of claim 7, wherein the controller element receives signals from a media controller that manages at least one among the call origination activity by way of the GUI and the media program.

9. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the controller element performs at least one among interrupting and overlaying a monitored event on the media program.

10. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the controller element:

interrupts presentation at the media device of a media program associated with the IPTV multimedia signal;

records a departure mark corresponding to said interruption of the media program;

records the media program from the departure point; and

presents at the media device a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the telephony signal.

11. The adjunct device of claim 10, wherein the controller element receives signals from a media controller and manages the call origination activity by way of the GUI.

12. The adjunct device of claim 10, wherein the controller element presents a paused state of the media program from the departure mark and the GUI overlaid on said paused media program.

13. The adjunct device of claim 10, wherein the controller element exclusively presents the GUI.

14. The adjunct device of claim 10, wherein the controller element:

detects call termination activity in the telephony signal;

discontinues presentation of the GUI; and

resumes presentation of the media program from the departure mark.

15. The adjunct device of claim 1, comprising a combination element that processes and combines portions of the telephony and IPTV multimedia signals for presentation at the media device.

16. The adjunct device of claim 1, wherein the IPTV multimedia signal comprises broadcast and interactive media services.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising a program for instructing an adjunct device to:

receive telephony signals from a telephony network;

receive multimedia signals from a set-top box (STB);

present at a media device in whole or in part the telephony signals and the multimedia signals supplied by an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) subsystem,

wherein the adjunct device comprises a separate unit that is not integrated with the STB and which is operative to integrate services supplied between the media device and the (STB).

18. The storage medium of claim 17, comprising computer instructions for exclusively presenting at the media device the multimedia signal in response to detecting no call origination activity in the telephony signal.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, comprising computer instructions for:

detecting call origination activity in the telephony signal; and

responsive to the detected call origination activity, presenting at the media device an overlay of images corresponding to a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the telephony signal and a media program associated with the multimedia signal.

20. The storage medium of claim 17, comprising computer instructions for:

interrupting a presentation at the media device of a media program associated with the multimedia signal;

recording a departure mark corresponding to said interruption of the media program;

recording the media program from the departure point; and

presenting at the media device a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the telephony signal.

21. The storage medium of claim 20, comprising computer instructions for:

detecting call termination activity in the telephony signal;

discontinuing presentation of the GUI; and

resuming presentation of the media program from the departure mark.

22. A method, comprising:

receiving at an adjunct device a video signal from a set-top box that is remote from the adjunct device;

receiving at the adjunct device a telephony signal from a communication system;

presenting at a TV set by way of the adjunct device that is remote from the adjunct device a combined signal comprising in whole or in part the telephony signal and the video signal,

wherein the adjunct device comprises a separate unit which is operative to integrate services supplied between the TV set and the STB.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising presenting at the TV set at least one among a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the telephony signal in place of a TV program supplied by the video signal when the adjunct device detects call origination activity in the telephony signal, the TV program in place of the GUI when the adjunct device detects no call origination activity in the telephony signal, an overlay of the GUI and the TV program when the adjunct device detects call origination activity in the telephony signal.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising receiving signals at the adjunct device to establish parental controls over services supplied by the telephony and video signals.