| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080298558 | System and method for caller identification voice announce - A system and method for a caller identification voice announce. The caller identification voice announce is associated with a calling party. An identifier of an incoming calls is translated to the associated caller identification voice announce. The caller identification voice announce associated with the calling party is played in response to receiving the incoming call from the calling party. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298563 | System and method for pre-call messaging - A system and method for playing pre-call messages. User input is received to record a pre-call message for one or more intended recipients in anticipation of an incoming call from the one or more intended recipient. The pre-call message is associated with an identifier of the one or more intended recipients. The pre-call message is played to the one or more intended recipients during the ring back period in response to determining the incoming call is from the one or more intended recipients using the identifier. The pre-call message is deleted in response to determining the one or more intended recipients have received the entire pre-call message. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298572 | System and method for remote home monitoring and intercom communication - A system and method for remote home monitoring and intercom communication. An indicator is received for activating an interactive feature of a telephone. A determination is made whether the indicator authorizes the interactive feature. The audio interface of the telephone is activated. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090003555 | System and method for an outbound greeting - A system and method for sending an outbound greeting. User input is received specifying a recipient, a date, and a time for delivery of the outbound greeting. The outbound greeting is received. The outbound greeting is stored for future delivery. A call is initiated to the recipient in response to the date and the time specified by the user input being met. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090161855 | System and method for hold and re-ring - A system and method for transferring calls. A voice communication is received. The voice communication is placed on hold in response to receiving user input. Multiple phones are rung simultaneously in response to receiving the user input. The voice communication is connected to one of the multiple phones in response to a user answering the voice communication on one of the multiple phones. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090198592 | SMS gifting - A SMS gifting system including a computer of a commercial business in communication with a network; the computer generates a purchase authorization code (“PAC”) and an indicia that describes a purchase by a purchaser of goods, services, and gift amounts relating to the commercial business; the computer transmits the generated PAC and indicia to a recipient; a communications device operable by the purchaser receives the information relating to the goods, services, and gift amounts and displays the information to the purchaser, a wireless communications device in communication with the network operable by the recipient to receive and display the generated PAC and indicia; and a store providing the goods, services, and gift amounts of the commercial business, the store receives the generated PAC and indicia and compares the presented PAC to the generated PAC for authorizing the provision at the store of the purchased goods, services, and gift amounts. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090207984 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VISUAL VOICEMAIL UTILIZING A SET-TOP BOX - A system and method for managing voicemail locally through a set-top box. A call is received from a caller. The call is intercepted utilizing a set-top box. An indicator is displayed to a television in communication with the set-top box. The indicator being indicative of the message being recorded. One or more messages are visually represented to a user in response to the user selecting a channel of the set-top box, the channel being associated with voicemail. The one or more messages are managed in response to user input received through a re remote control in communication with the set-top box. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090210917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY MANAGING VOICEMAIL UTILIZING A SET-TOP BOX - A system and method for managing a voicemail system through a set-top box. A call may be received from a caller. The call is intercepted utilizing a voicemail system available through a network. The voicemail system is operable to store one or more messages. A user selection is received to access the voicemail system utilizing a set-top box. An interface for the voicemail system is displayed to a user. The interface is displayed on a display in communication with the set-top box. The one or more voicemail accounts are managed based on user input. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100054436 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SET-TOP BOX CALL CONNECTION - A system for initiating a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control a selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is further operable to initiate a voice call between a first telephone and a second telephone. The first telephone is associated with a first telephone network and the second telephone is associated with a second telephone network. The system includes a remote control in communication with the set-top box. The remote control is operable to receive a first input associated with the selection of the television channel from a user and a second input associated with the voice call. The voice call is initiated by the set-top box in response to the second input being received by the set-top box. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058375 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING USAGE INFORMATION FOR A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for providing usage information for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that receives a request for usage information for a set-top box and the usage information has media content received by the set-top box, queries a database with a query based upon the request and the request has criteria for usage information, and sends a query result for the query. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058394 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A REMINDER NOTIFICATION FOR A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for providing a reminder notification for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that determines a reminder notification rule for a recipient with at least one descriptor of media content received by a set-top box, queries a database for one or more selections of scheduled media content in accordance with the reminder notification rule, and sends a reminder notification to the recipient based on a query result. Another embodiment is disclosed that receives a request for a usage information of a set-top box in accordance with a reminder notification preference that has a reminder notification rule with at least one descriptor of media content received by a set-top box, and sends the usage information for the set-top box based upon the reminder notification preference. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058395 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A CONTENT NOTIFICATION FOR A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for providing a content notification for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that receives security information at a web portal and the security information has identification information for a user assigned to a set-top box, services a request to create a content notification preference for the set-top box at the web portal in response to successful entry of security information, determines media content received by the set-top box and the media content selected for display, determines the content notification preference associated with the set-top box, the content notification preference has a content notification rule to monitor media content received by the set-top box, and sends a content notification to a recipient based on the content notification preference. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058407 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SET-TOP BOX BASE STATION INTEGRATION - A system for conducting a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control the selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is also operable to initiate a voice call in response to a selection of a user-interface displayed on the television. The system also includes a wireless set in communication with the set-top box, the wireless set operable to establish a portion of the voice path for the voice call. Signaling for the voice call is initiated by the set-top box. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058408 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING OUTBOUND TELEPHONE CALLS VIA A SET-TOP BOX - A system and method for providing outbound telephone calling through an integrated set-top box includes a telephone connection, a media signal connection, and a modem. A user may input a telephone number to the set-top box to initiate an outbound telephone call. The set-top box modem dials the telephone number via the telephone connection to the publicly switched network. Once the call is connected, the user may take the call using a telephone connected to the home telephone network or through a speaker and microphone integrated with or connected to the set-top box. A status of the outbound telephone call may be displayed on a screen connected to the set-top box. A user may also initiate a telephone call to a number displayed on the screen as part of media signal. The on-screen telephone number may be provided along with the media signal or may be extracted from the media signal using character recognition software. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058415 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION WITH A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for communication with a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that receives security information and the security information has identification information for a user assigned to a set-top box, services a request to create a notification preference for the set-top box in response to successful entry of security information, establishes the notification preference for the set-top box and the notification preference has a rule for providing information in a notification on media content available to be received by the set-top box, sends the notification to the recipient in accordance with a notification preference, receives a communication for the set-top box from a user device and the communication comprises a partial command for a set-top box, interprets the partial command in view of the notification, and sends a command to the set-top box based on the partial command and the notification. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058416 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A WEB-BASED CONTENT FEED FOR A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for providing a web-based content feed for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that receives a web-based content feed at a set-top box, receives a television broadcast at the set-top box and the television broadcast has audio and visual content for one or more television programs, identifies a television program from the one or more television programs related to a portion of the web-based content feed, determines if the portion of the web-based content feed is selected for display at a time that coincides with a broadcast time for the television program, and associates a television content identifier with the portion of the web-based content feed and the television content identifier allows for retrieval of the television program in the television broadcast, and retrieves the television content identifier in response to a request to link to the television program within the web-based content feed. Another embodiment is disclosed that receives a web-based content feed with a link to a television program, transmits the web-based content feed for display, receives an indication that the link has been selected, and sends a request to receive the audio and visual content for the television program at the set-top box. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100058417 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SOCIAL NOTIFICATION FOR A SET-TOP BOX - A method and system for providing a social notification for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that determines media content received by a set-top box and the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network, determines a social notification preference associated with a second member of the social network and the social notification preference has a social notification rule to monitor the media content received by the set-top box and sends a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference. Another embodiment is disclosed that determines media content received by a set-top box and the media content selected for display by a first member of a social network, determines a social notification preference associated with a second member of a social network and the social notification rule comprises at least one descriptor of media content, queries a database for usage information for the first member of the social network in accordance with the social notification rule, and sends a social notification to a recipient based on the social notification preference. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100169944 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SET-TOP BOX RECORDING - Embodiments of the present invention disclose an integrated set-top box for recording a voice communication and/or a voicemail. In one embodiment, the integrated set-top box automatically detects communications associated with a monitored communication line and records and stores the voice communications in a data storage unit of the integrated set-top box. In another embodiment, the integrated set-top box may provide voicemail capabilities in addition to other features. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100189231 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING BROADBAND NOTIFICATION - Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for providing, among other things, local calling name caller identification to a broadband phone, personalized user-specified actions associated with a plurality of users based on an incoming caller identification number to a broadband phone, and remote access to locally stored data on a broadband phone. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20110126251 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE EXCHANGE AND STORAGE OF SET-TOP BOX DATA - A system and method for updating viewing status between a set-top box and one or more social networks. User preferences are set for communicating a viewing status between the set-top box and one or more social networks. A determination of media content viewed by a user is made by a user utilizing the set-top box. The viewing status of the user is posted in response to the user preferences and the determined media content. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110126257 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TUNING A SET-TOP BOX REMOTELY VIA A SOCIAL NETWORK - A system and method for controlling a set-top box through a social network. Access is granted to control the set-top box to one or more contacts of a user. The one or more contacts being associated with one or more social networks. Access to control the set-top box is granted to one or more contacts of one or more social networks. A request to change media content is received from one of the one or more contacts. The one or more contacts are authenticated to ensure they are authorized to tune the set-top box to the media content. The media content is tuned in for communication to a display in response to authenticating the request from the one of the one or more contacts. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110126258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOCIAL NETWORK CHAT VIA A SET-TOP BOX - A system and method for chatting between a set-top box and one or more social networks. One or more social networks is associated with a set-top box. User preferences are set for communications with one or more contacts included in the one or more social networks. A chat interface is displayed to a user on a display associated with the set-top box in response to the user preferences and activity trigger determined in response to activity detected by the set-top box. Communications occurs with the one or more contacts using the chat interface. | 05-26-2011 |
