Method, apparatus, and system for invoking third-party call control via a cable-television host device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a video signal into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an encoded first identifier associated with a first telephone;
displaying the video signal, wherein displaying the video signal comprises displaying a prompt associated with the first identifier;
receiving a command from a user into the cable-television host device, the command (a) being associated with the displayed prompt and (b) requesting establishment of a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, the second telephone being associated with the user; and
in response to receiving the command, the cable-television host device transmitting a message via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the first identifier, wherein the message further comprises at least one identifier of the cable-television host device, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to (i) map the at least one identifier of the cable-television host device to a telephone number of the second telephone and (ii) invoke third-party call control at least in part by using (a) the content based at least in part on the first identifier and (b) the telephone number of the second telephone to attempt to establish the telephone call between the first telephone and the second telephone.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for invoking third-party call control via a cable-television host device. A video signal is received into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an identifier associated with a first telephony endpoint. A command is received into the cable-television host device, the command requesting establishment of a communication session between the first telephony endpoint and a second telephony endpoint. A message is transmitted via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the identifier, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to invoke third-party call control to attempt to establish the communication session between the first telephony endpoint and the second telephony endpoint.
63 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a video signal into a cable-television host device, the video signal comprising an encoded first identifier associated with a first telephone; displaying the video signal, wherein displaying the video signal comprises displaying a prompt associated with the first identifier; receiving a command from a user into the cable-television host device, the command (a) being associated with the displayed prompt and (b) requesting establishment of a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, the second telephone being associated with the user; and in response to receiving the command, the cable-television host device transmitting a message via a packet-switched network from the cable-television host device to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the first identifier, wherein the message further comprises at least one identifier of the cable-television host device, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to (i) map the at least one identifier of the cable-television host device to a telephone number of the second telephone and (ii) invoke third-party call control at least in part by using (a) the content based at least in part on the first identifier and (b) the telephone number of the second telephone to attempt to establish the telephone call between the first telephone and the second telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 32)
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12. A cable-television host device comprising:
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a user interface; a television interface; a network interface; a processor; and a data storage, wherein the data storage comprises a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor for causing the cable-television host device to; receive a video signal via the network interface, the video signal comprising an encoded first identifier associated with a first telephone; display the video signal via the television interface, wherein displaying the video signal comprises displaying a prompt associated with the first identifier; receive a command from a user via the user interface, the command (a) being associated with the displayed prompt and (b) requesting establishment of a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, the second telephone being associated with the user; and in response to receiving the command, transmit a message via the network interface via a packet-switched network to a network entity, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the first identifier, wherein the message further comprises at least one identifier of the cable-television host device, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network entity to (i) map the at least one identifier of the cable-television host device to a telephone number of the second telephone and (ii) invoke third-party call control at least in part by using (a) the content based at least in part on the first identifier and (b) the telephone number of the second telephone to attempt to establish the telephone call between the first telephone and the second telephone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 33)
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22. A system comprising a cable-television host device and a network server, wherein:
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the cable-television host device comprises a first network interface and a first computer-readable storage medium comprising a first set of instructions executable by a first processor for causing the cable-television host device to; receive a video signal via the first network interface, the video signal comprising an encoded first identifier associated with a first telephone, display the video signal, wherein displaying the video signal comprises displaying a prompt associated with the first identifier; receive a command from a user, the command (a) being associated with the displayed prompt and (b) requesting establishment of a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, the second telephone being associated with the user, and in response to receiving the command, transmit a message via the first network interface via a packet-switched network, wherein the message comprises content based at least in part on the first identifier, wherein the message further comprises at least one identifier of the cable-television host device, and wherein the message further comprises content for causing the network server to (i) map the at least one identifier of the cable-television host device to a telephone number of the second telephone and (ii) invoke third-party call control at least in part by using (a) the content based at least in part on the first identifier and (b) the telephone number of the second telephone to attempt to establish the telephone call between the first telephone and the second telephone; and the network server comprises a second network interface and a second computer-readable storage medium comprising a second set of instructions executable by a second processor for causing the network server to; receive the message via the second network interface via the packet-switched network, and in response to receiving the message, (i) map the at least one identifier of the cable-television host device to a telephone number of the second telephone and (ii) invoke third-party call control to use at least (a) the content based at least in part on the first identifier and (b) the telephone number of the second telephone to attempt to establish the telephone call between the first telephone and the second telephone. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34)
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Specification