Set top integrated visionphone user interface having multiple menu hierarchies

• US 6,396,531 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Treventi, Philip Andrew, Walker, Hopeton S., Martin, Jeffrey S., Oplinger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/224,286
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14,15 345/173,352,353,356,357,329,978 379/93.24,93.12,93.17,93.23,110.01
• US Class Current: 348/14.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A system architecture for bypassing a local exchange carrier comprises an intelligent terminal, a residential gateway coupled to the terminal, a cable facility management platform terminating a twisted pair or coaxial cable facility and a network service platform. The platform serves both a cable headend and a telephone DSL network to enable a single service provider to provide different information content services independent of how a user actually receives the services. The twisted pair and/or coaxial cable fed, integrated residence gateway controlled intelligent terminal or set-top device provides a multiple menu heirarchy for selecting a plurality of enhanced services. The menus are implemented on a video telephone or similar device with a touch-sensitive screen display for interactively displaying video and accompanying audio signals and menu screens. The integrated residence gateway is coupled to either or both of the coaxial cable or twisted pair and distributes the bandwidth facilities available over either service vehicle to customer devices including the set top box.

Claims

1. A user interface for a videophone connected to a coaxial cable network, comprising:

a display screen responsive to pressure input such that the display screen displays a plurality of first user selectable options corresponding to a plurality of service modes of the videophone; and

a controller configured to process the plurality of service modes such that the controller displays at least one menu hierarchy on the screen display after a user selectable option has been selected within the plurality of first user selectable options;

wherein the controller is configured with a first operating state such that the controller receives control signals from a network device to control the display of the first plurality of user selectable options; and

the controller configured with a second operating state such that the controller displays a plurality of second user selectable options provided by the network device upon receiving a signal from the controller that the first user selectable options have not been selected after a predetermined time;

wherein the first user selectable options and the second user selectable options are displayed simultaneously on the display screen such that the controller displays information linked to a second user selectable option responsive to being selected.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the second user selectable options are selectable advertisements in which the linked information includes an electronic coupon.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said plurality of service modes includes at least one of a billing service, a banking service, an electronic shopping service, an operator service, an electronic message service, a telephone directory service, and a customer care service.

4. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes an Internet user menu.

5. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a speed dial menu.

6. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a cash and coupons user selectable menu.

7. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes an operator services menu.

8. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a customer care menu.

9. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a customer billing menu.

10. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a mail menu.

11. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarachy includes a video mail menu.

12. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarachy includes a smart card validation menu.

13. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a telephone directory menu.

14. The user interface according to claim 13, wherein said telephone directory menu further includes a residential telephone directory menu.

15. The user interface according to claim 13, wherein said telephone directory menu further includes a business telephone directory menu.

16. The user interface according to claim 13, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes an electronic shopping menu.

17. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said telephone directory menu includes a toll-free number telephone directory menu.

18. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a call dialing menu.

19. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a parental control menu.

20. The user interface according to claim 19, wherein said parental control menu includes a set top box parental control menu.

21. The user interface according to claim 19, wherein said parental control menu includes a cable modem parental control menu.

22. The user interface according to claim 19, wherein said parental control menu include an IP telephony parental control menu.

23. The user interface according to claim 19, wherein said parent control menu includes a home automation parental control menu.

24. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarch includes a video/audio menu.

25. The user interface according to claim 24, wherein said video/audio menu includes a cable channel menu.

26. The user interface according to claim 24, wherein said video/audio menu includes a satellite channel menu.

27. The user interface according to claim 24, wherein said video/audio menu includes a pay-per-view channel menu.

28. The user interface according to claim 24, wherein said video/audio menu includes a music channel menu.

29. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a games menu.

30. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein said at least one menu hierarchy includes a speed dial menu.