Multimedia processing resource with interactive voice response

• US 9,215,509 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belz, Steven M., Pratt, James, Sullivan, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Hwang, Joon H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALRIYASHI, ABDULKADER MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US12/342,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,548 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232, 725/106, 725/109, 725/110, 725/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A multimedia processing resource (MPR) includes interactive voice response capabilities. A user may control MPR commands and functions over a telephone interface. For example, through a telephone connection a user may receive a listing of electronic programming guide data, may schedule a multimedia program for recording, or may receive a report related to a multimedia program that is viewed at the present time.

Claims

1. A first multimedia processing resource, comprising:

a network interface configured to connect to a residential gateway coupled to an access network of a multimedia service provider;

a decoder module including a video decoder configured to generate a video stream, suitable for presentation on a display device, based on multimedia programming received by the network interface from the residential gateway;

a telephone interface configured to;

receive wirelessly a first telephone call to a dedicated phone number associated with the first multimedia processing resource; and

receive a second telephone call, routed from the residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the first multimedia processing resource, caller identification information indicative of a telephone number associated with a caller, and voice input provided during the second telephone call; and

a processor having access to a computer readable medium including program instructions, executable by the processor, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

retrieving voice recognition data specific to a caller setting associated with the caller identification information;

processing the voice input based, in part, on the voice recognition data to recognize voice commands from the caller;

recognizing, in the voice input, a presentation setting indicated by the caller;

distributing the presentation setting to a secondary multimedia processing resource;

implementing the presentation setting at the secondary multimedia processing resource;

recognizing content criteria indicated by the voice input, wherein the content criteria indicate a content characteristic;

accessing, within the first multimedia processing resource, electronic programming guide data listing multimedia programs containing content satisfying the content criteria;

generating speech output reciting at least a portion of the electronic programming guide data, wherein the speech output is indicative of the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria; and

receiving at least one of the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria.

2. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface includes a microphone and is configured to receive local voice input from a user.

3. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface is configured to recognize dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

4. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the content criteria indicate a genre.

5. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the operations include:

determining whether a received voice print matches a stored voice print.

6. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the network interface is an IP network interface, the multimedia programming comprises a set of IP packets, and the first telephone call comprises a set of IP packets.

7. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface is configured to support an IP-based communication session.

8. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 7, wherein the IP-based communication session includes a session initiation protocol session.

9. The first multimedia processing resource of claim 1, wherein the operations include:

scheduling a recording of a portion of the multimedia programming;

reviewing a scheduled recording;

identifying a currently viewed multimedia program;

changing a lock status of at least one of;

the first multimedia processing resource and the secondary multimedia processing resource;

changing a channel;

adjusting a video quality of a multimedia program presentation; and

adjusting an audio volume of a multimedia program presentation.

10. A method of providing multimedia content, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving, by a telephone interface of a primary multimedia processing device, a routed telephone call routed from a residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the primary multimedia processing device, performing particular operations; and

responsive to receiving, by the telephone interface, a wireless telephone call to a dedicated telephone number associated with the primary multimedia processing device, performing the particular operations;

wherein the particular operations include;

recognizing caller identification information indicative of a telephone number associated with a caller, and accessing voice recognition data associated with the caller;

processing voice input provided by the caller based at least in part on the voice recognition data;

recognizing, in the voice input, a presentation setting indicated by the caller;

distributing the presentation setting to a secondary multimedia processing device;

implementing the presentation setting at the secondary multimedia processing device;

recognizing content criteria indicated during the telephone call;

accessing, within the primary multimedia processing device, electronic programming guide data listing multimedia programming satisfying the content criteria;

outputting speech output reciting at least a portion of the electronic programming guide data, wherein the speech output is indicative of multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria; and

receiving, from the network interface, at least one of the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the content criteria are indicated in the voice input.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the content criteria are indicated, at least in part, by dual tone multi-frequency signals.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the content criteria includes a genre criteria indicating a genre.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising changing a lock status of the at least one of the primary multimedia processing device and the second multimedia processing device in response to recognizing a lock status request.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising, responsive to recognizing a presentation setting request, adjusting a presentation setting selected from an audio volume setting, an image quality setting, and a current channel setting.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program instructions, executable by a processor, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

responsive to receiving, by a telephone interface of a primary multimedia device, a routed telephone call routed to the network interface from a residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the primary multimedia device, performing particular operations; and

responsive to receiving, by the telephone interface, a wireless telephone call to a dedicated telephone number associated with the primary multimedia device, performing the particular operations;

wherein the particular operations include;

recognizing caller identification information indicative of a telephone number associated with a caller and accessing voice recognition data associated with the caller;

processing voice input provided by the caller based at least in part on the voice recognition data;

recognizing, in the voice input, a presentation setting indicated by the caller;

distributing the presentation setting to a secondary multimedia device;

implementing the presentation setting at the secondary multimedia device;

recognizing, in the voice input, content criteria;

accessing, within the primary multimedia device, electronic programming guide data indicating multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria;

providing speech output over the telephone call, the speech output reciting at least a portion of the electronic programming guide data corresponding to the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria; and

receiving at least one of the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the presentation setting is selected from a settings group of an audio volume setting, an image quality setting, and a current channel setting.