Integrated Devices for Multimedia Content Delivery and Video Conferencing

• US 20090109278A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LYFT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karnalkar, Anup D., Shah, Jyotindra N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A receiver device for use in conjunction with an MCDN includes a computer readable storage resource, a controller to execute stored instructions, a network interface coupling the device to the MCDN, and a decoder to decode streaming multimedia content received via the network interface. The receiver includes a remote control interface to detect a remote control command from a remote control device and a handset interface to communicate audio data with a handset device. A local video interface receives video data from a camera or other local video resource. The stored instructions include, a remote control application to execute remote control commands, a handset module to communicate audio date with the handset device, and a session initiation module to establish a video conferencing session. A video conferencing module integrates the audio data and the video data and communicates the integrated data via the video conferencing session.

Claims

1. A receiver device for use in conjunction with a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:

a computer readable storage resource;

a controller operable to execute instructions stored in the storage resource;

a network interface operable to couple the device to the MCDN;

a decoder operable to decode streaming multimedia content via the network interface;

a remote control interface operable to detect a remote control command from a remote control device;

a handset interface operable to communicate audio data with a handset device;

a local video interface operable to receive video data from a local video resource;

wherein the instructions stored in the storage resource include;

a remote control application to execute remote control commands received via the remote control interface;

a handset module operable to support a telephony connection with the handset device;

a session initiation module operable to establish a video conferencing session; and

a video conferencing module operable to integrate the audio data and the video data and communicate the integrated data via the video conferencing session.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the handset module is operable to communicate digital audio data with the handset device.

3. The device of claim 2, where the handset module is operable to support a digital enhanced cordless telecommunication (DECT) compliant communication with the handset device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the session initiation module comprises a session initiation protocol (SIP) compliant client.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver device comprises a STB.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the STB is operable to communicate with a residential gateway via a local area network connection.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the remote control interface comprises an infrared interface operable to detect infrared signals from the remote control device.

8. A portable communication device suitable for use in conjunction with a STB operably coupled to a MCDN, the communication device comprising:

a plurality of remote control buttons;

a button interface operable to generate a remote control command responsive to assertion of a selected remote control button;

a remote control interface operable to transmit the remote control command to the STB;

a handset interface operable to communicate audio data with the STB;

a microphone operable to convert sound to audio data and to provide the audio data to the handset interface; and

a speaker operable to convert audio data from the handset interface to sound.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the handset interface is operable to communicate the audio data and the remote control command wirelessly.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the handset interface is operable to communicate digital audio data with the STB.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the handset interface is operable to support a digital enhanced cordless telecommunication (DECT) compliant connection with the STB.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a display operable to display information communicated via the DECT compliant connection.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the information includes CallerID information associated with a video call.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the remote control interface comprises an infrared interface.

15. A multimedia service comprising:

providing a subscriber with a STB to receive multimedia content; and

providing the subscriber with a remote control operable to transmit remote control commands to the STB;

wherein the remote control includes a speaker to generate sound and a microphone to receive sound;

wherein the STB and the remote control are operable to communicate audio data;

wherein the STB is operable to establish a multimedia conferencing session and further operable to transmit and receive multimedia conference content via the established session.

16. The service of claim 15, wherein the STB and the remote control communicate audio data with each other digitally.

17. The service of claim 15, wherein the STB and the remote control communicate audio data with each other via digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) compliant communications.

18. The service of claim 17, wherein the remote control device includes a liquid crystal display and is operable to display DECT supported information in the display.

19. The service of claim 15, wherein the STB is operable as a session initiation protocol (SIP) client to establish the multimedia conference session.

20. The service of claim 15, further comprising providing the subscriber with a second STB and a second remote control wherein the second remote control communicates remote control commands to the second STB and wherein the second remote control communicates audio data to the first STB.