Session initiation protocol enabled set-top device

• US 8,069,252 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• 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): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US11/394,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/228
• 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 set-top device comprising:

a tuner operative to receive media; and

a processor coupled to the tuner, the processor operative to execute instructions which cause the set-top device to;

establish a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol, wherein the application layer control protocol is a Session Initiation Protocol enabled application;

identify a media type being used at the set-top device;

receive a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

generate options using the identified media type at the set-top device in response to the message, wherein the options provide the call information for the caller and provide a plurality of selections on handling the call, at least one selection comprising forwarding the call to at least one identified communications device;

determine that the at least one selection of the plurality of selections is selected by a subscriber; and

send a second message to the server requesting the server to forward the call to the at least one identified communications device using the application layer control protocol.

2. The set-top device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to execute instructions which cause the set-top device to:

route the call through the set-top device to the at least one identified communications device.

3. The set-top device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to execute instructions which cause the set-top device to register the subscriber with the server at the set-top device, wherein calls for the subscriber are routed to the set-top device.

4. The set-top device of claim 3, wherein the subscriber is registered when the subscriber uses the set-top device.

6. The set-top device of claim 1, wherein, responsive to receiving the message, the processor is further operative to execute instructions which cause the set-top device to send a signal to turn on a television coupled to the set-top device.

7. The set-top device of claim 1, wherein the at least one identified communications device comprises a cellular telephone.

8. The set-top device of claim 1, wherein the at least one identified communications device comprises a home telephone associated with the subscriber.

5. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-recordable medium tangibly embodying instructions for providing services to a set-top device, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for establishing a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol, wherein the application layer control protocol is a Session Initiation Protocol enabled application;

second instructions for identifying a media type being used at the set-top device;

third instructions for receiving a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

fourth instructions for generating options using the identified media type at the set-top device in response to the message, wherein the options provide the call information for the caller and provide a plurality of selections on handling the call, at least one selection comprising forwarding the call to at least one identified communications device;

fifth instructions, responsive to an input, for determining that the at least one selection of the plurality of selections is selected by a subscriber; and

sixth instructions to send a second message to the server requesting the server to forward the call to the at least one identified communications device using the application layer control protocol.

9. A set-top device comprising:

a tuner operative to receive media; and

a processor coupled to the tuner, the processor operative to execute instructions which cause the set-top device to;

establish a connection with a server, wherein the connection is established using an application layer control protocol, wherein the application layer control protocol is a Session Initiation Protocol enabled application;

identify a media type being used at the set-top device;

receive a message from the server, wherein the message indicates that a call from a caller to a user is being attempted and includes call information for the caller;

generate options using the identified media type at the set-top device in response to the message, wherein the options provide the call information for the caller and provide a plurality of selections on handling the call, at least one selection comprising forwarding the call to at least one identified communications device that is connected to the set-top device;

determine that the at least one selection of the plurality of selections is selected by a subscriber;

send a second message to the server requesting the server to forward the call to the at least one identified communications device using the application layer control protocol; and

route the call through the set-top device to the at least one identified communications device.