System and method to provide services from a communication network to a media-delivery network via a host device connected to the media-delivery network

• US 8,265,251 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cope, Warren B., McConnell, Von K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry
• Application Number:
  US12/787,434
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/106.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/207.14, 455/414.1, 725/106, 725/109, 725/132
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/14 cable networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating telecommunications and cable networks for the purpose of providing telephone services to a cable host device over a cable network. The methods include registering a cable host device to receive telephone services, downloading telephone service software to a cable host device, cable host device sign on to the telephone services, associating a telephone with a cable host device, temporarily registering a cable host device, and activating and deactivating telephone services for a cable host device. Also described are systems for connecting telephone and cable networks to enable telephone services to be provided by cable host devices.

Claims

1. A method to provide a telephone service to a subscriber of a telecommunications network via a cable host device in a cable media-delivery network, comprising:

the subscriber selecting a telecommunication portal channel on the cable host device;

displaying a user interface on a monitor connected to the cable host device;

sending an activation message from the cable host device to a telephone subscriber database on the telecommunications network containing the telephone service to be provided to the subscriber, wherein the activation message includes a telephone number of a mobile phone of the subscriber and a cable host device identification;

associating the telephone number with the cable host device in the telephone subscriber database;

setting an indicator within the telephone subscriber database to indicate that the telephone service is active through the cable host device, whereby the subscriber'"'"'s telephone service is directed to the cable host device as an alternative mechanism to the mobile phone;

sending a deactivation message from the cable host device to the telephone subscriber database when the telephone service to the cable host device is to be deactivated, wherein the deactivation message includes the telephone number of the mobile phone of the subscriber and the cable host device identification; and

setting an indicator within the telephone subscriber database to indicate that the telephone service to the cable host device is inactive.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the activation message from the cable host device to the telephone subscriber database comprises:

sending a message from the cable host device to an intermediate gateway server; and

sending the message from the intermediate gateway server to the telephone subscriber database on the telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the activation message from the cable host device to the telephone subscriber database further comprises authentication information including a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or account identification number.

4. A system to connect a telecommunications network and a cable network for delivery of telephone services to a cable host device, comprising:

a first private IP network for use by the telecommunications network;

a second private IP network for use by the cable network;

a cable host device coupled to the second private IP network;

a monitor coupled to the cable host device;

a broadcast file carousel component coupled to the second private IP network to store and send software to cable host device;

a configuration control component coupled to the second private IP network to signal when new software is required to be sent from the broadcast file carousel to the cable host device;

an intermediate gateway server that connects to both the first and second private IP networks;

a telephone subscriber database coupled to the first private IP network; and

a telephone switch call manager coupled to the telephone subscriber database and the first private IP network.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a multimedia data storage component coupled to the second private IP network to host telephone services content prior to delivery to the cable host device.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a text input mechanism that is connected to the cable host device.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a video camera that is connected to the cable host device.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a microphone that is connected to the cable host device.