Multimedia processing resource with interactive voice response

• US 9,621,943 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): ALRIYASHI, ABDULKADER MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US14/935,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20160066014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 709208, 709232, 725106, 725109, 725110, 725131
• 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 set top box, comprising:

a processor;

a network interface configured to receive, via a residential gateway, multimedia content from a multimedia service provider;

a video decoder configured to decode the multimedia content to generate a video stream suitable for displaying on a display device;

a telephone interface comprising;

a wireless telephone interface configured to receive calls to a dedicated phone number associated with the set top box; and

a second telephone interface configured to receive calls routed from the residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the set top box;

wherein the telephone interface is configured to obtain caller identification information indicative of a telephone number associated with a caller of a particular call, and voice input provided during the particular call; and

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;

sending the presentation setting to a secondary video decoder of a secondary set top box;

recognizing content criteria indicated by the voice input;

accessing, within the set top box, electronic programming guide data listing multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria;

generating speech output indicative of the multimedia programs satisfying the content criteria; and

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

2. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface includes a microphone and is configured to receive local voice input from a user.

3. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface is configured to recognize dual-tone multi-frequency commands.

4. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the content criteria indicate a genre.

5. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the operations include:

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

6. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the network interface is an IP network interface, the multimedia content comprises a set of IP packets, and the particular call comprises a set of IP packets.

7. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the telephone interface is configured to support an IP-based communication session.

8. The set top box of claim 7, wherein the IP-based communication session includes a session initiation protocol session.

9. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the operations include:

scheduling a recording of a portion of the multimedia content;

reviewing a scheduled recording;

identifying a currently viewed multimedia program;

changing a lock status of at least one of;

the set top box and the secondary set top box;

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 wireless telephone interface of a set top box, a wireless telephone call to a dedicated telephone number associated with the set top box, performing particular operations; and

responsive to receiving, by a second telephone interface of the set top box, a routed telephone call routed from a residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the set top box, performing the particular operations;

wherein the particular operations include;

accessing caller identification information associated with a particular call;

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

processing voice input, provided by a caller during the particular call, based, in part, on the voice recognition data to recognize voice commands from the caller;

recognizing, in the voice input, a presentation setting; and

sending the presentation setting to a video decoder of a secondary set top box;

recognizing programming criteria indicated by the voice input;

accessing, within the set top box, electronic programming guide data listing multimedia programs containing content satisfying the programming criteria;

generating speech output indicative of the multimedia programs satisfying the programming criteria; and

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

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

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

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the programming criteria includes broadcast time criteria.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising changing a lock status of at least one of the set top box and the secondary set top box 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 wireless telephone interface of a set top box, a wireless telephone call to a dedicated telephone number associated with the set top box, performing particular operations; and

responsive to receiving, by a second telephone interface of the set top box, a routed telephone call routed from a residential gateway based on a telephone number extension associated with the set top box, performing the particular operations;

wherein the particular operations include;

accessing caller identification information associated with a particular call;

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

processing voice input, provided by a caller during the particular call, based, in part, on the voice recognition data to recognize voice commands from the caller;

recognizing, in the voice input, a presentation setting; and

sending the presentation setting to a video decoder of a secondary set top box;

recognizing programming criteria indicated by the voice input;

accessing, within the set top box, electronic programming guide data listing multimedia programs containing content satisfying the programming criteria;

generating speech output indicative of the multimedia programs satisfying the programming criteria; and

receiving at least one of the multimedia programs satisfying the programming 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.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming criteria are indicated in the voice input.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming criteria are indicated, at least in part, by dual tone multi-frequency signals.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the programming criteria includes broadcast time criteria.