CONFIGURATION OF TV SERVICES VIA ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION

• US 20090276808A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: JERDING, Dean F., Schlarb, John M., Van Orden, Robert T., Crandall, Bindu, Banker, Robert O., Rodriguez, Arturo A.
• Application Number:
  US12/389,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an authenticated user communication, the communication conveying instructions that enable a service guide menu configuration according to user specifications, the service guide menu comprising selectable hypertext links corresponding to each service among a plurality of services;

configuring the service guide menu according to the communication; and

communicating the configured service guide to client logic for execution and display on a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving over a telephone medium.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving comprises receiving a personal identification number to enable the configuration.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling user configuration by providing a phone menu system

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving over an Internet connection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving comprises receiving at a consumer electronics device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a user logon to enable user access to a web site.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the web site comprises an encrypted web site.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the logon comprises one or more of a password, personal identification number, and account information.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing menus configured to receive user input corresponding to the menu configurations.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving further comprises routing the service guide configuration from the web site to a server.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving at a server communicatively coupled to a client device over a subscriber television network,

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving comprises receiving at a client device communicatively coupled to the display device, the display device configured to display one or more menus for the user configuration.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring comprises specifying a location corresponding to a display of a service in the service guide menu.

15. A method, comprising:

a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) in a television network providing plural services to a subscriber, wherein the DHCT is coupled to a television services control unit (TSCU) via a first communication medium, said TSCU located remotely from the DHCT;

the subscriber initiating communication with the TSCU via a second communication medium, the second communication medium different than the first communication medium, the subscriber using a second device different than the DHCT to communicate with the TSCU over the second communication medium;

the TSCU authenticating the subscriber over the second communication medium; and

receiving at the TSCU input from the subscriber, the input entered in the second device, the entered input corresponding to configuring at least one of the plural services provided by the DHCT to the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing to the subscriber via the DHCT the configured at least one service at a time after the configuring the at least one service.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the television services control unit resides in a headend.