At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

At&t Delaware Intellectual Property Corporation, Inc.

Apple Inc.

Andre D Jarboe

Barrett Morris Kreiner

John Blake Slemmer

Kevin Kleinfelter

Stefan Olsson

George Mattackal

Cynthia Paige Amato

Pamela H Millikan

Michael A Reagan

Audrey L Dibrell

Pamela Roman

Andy Kilinski

Robert Loadwick

Donna Kay Hodges

Darin J Morrow

Jonathan M Peterson

Michael S Bass

Mark A Kirpatrick

Steven Thobe

Monique Simmons

Jeffrey Lee Mitchell

Olsson Stefan

Jeffrey L Mitchell

Methods, systems, and products control presentation of media content within a networked environment of multiple devices. Interaction rules are used to determine which ones of the devices interact with each other. Further rules may define what media content is playable by each one of the devices in the networked environment.

Parental control in a networked environment

Content control in a networked environment

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing interaction among electronic devices of an environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory for storing interaction rules, and a processor for learning the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The device also includes components for performing the device specific functions and a state sensor for determining the logical or physical state of the device. Methods involve observing at one or more devices change of state activity among the plurality of devices through receiving a change of state message that is transmitted to the one or more devices. A set of rules are learned at the one or more devices based upon observing the change of state activity. The learned set of rules are then applied at the one or more devices to automatically control changes of state of devices within the plurality of devices.

Learning device interaction rules

Methods, systems, and products aggregate and distribute changes of state between devices. A plurality of devices communicates with an aggregator. The plurality of devices sends their respective changes of state to the aggregator. The aggregator queries a set of interaction rules to determine how the change of state is disseminated among the plurality of devices.

Device for aggregating, translating, and disseminating communications within a multiple device environment

Devices and methods are disclosed for controlling content within a device environment through interaction among electronic devices of the environment. The device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules and content rules and a processor for implementing the interaction rules and content rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. Methods involve obtaining content information of the media about to be played and comparing the content information to the content rules stored at a device. An instruction about playback of the media content is generated. Methods may also involve seeking rights information for media content and determining whether rights information exists for identified media content in response to the request. When rights information does exist for the identified media content, a message is sent that includes the rights information.

Content control in a device environment

A rollover management system (RMS) receives and stores rollover data that includes subscriber identification and a balance of the rollover usage units that may be 'rolled-over' to offset overage units used by a subscriber in excess of package plan usage units in a subsequent billing cycle. In response to receiving requests, the RMS presents rollover data elements to the requesting entities. The balance of the rollover usage units may be rolled over and measured in at least one of a plurality of billable units and may be shared by the subscriber's multiple communication services. The rollover usage units expire after a predetermined number of billing cycles where the predetermined number may vary between package plans. The RMS receives post-billing data elements to update the rollover data elements. The RMS is further operative to account for and present for review unbilled communication service usage to subscribers.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable-mediums for managing rollover usage units of communication services

Aggregator devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction in an environment containing other electronic devices and the aggregator device. The aggregator device has a transmitter, receiver, memory storing interaction rules, and a processor for implementing the interaction rules in association with the transmitter, receiver, and other devices of the environment. The methods involve transmitting a message to the aggregator from a first device, referencing rules of device interaction for the environment, and then according to the rules of device interaction, transmitting a message from the aggregator to a second device. The rules of device interaction may include instructions that are to be transmitted from the aggregator in response to the aggregator receiving change of state messages from devices of the environment.

Devices and methods are disclosed for establishing device interaction among electronic devices of a device environment and a notification device interfaced with the user. Notification devices allow the user to communicate directly with the device environment, such as by entering information in a mobile phone that has a wireless connection to the environment. A device of the environment has a first transmitter and receiver for communicating with other devices, such as a notification device within the environment. In the instance where a notification device is located remotely, the device of the environment may also include a second transmitter and receiver for communicating with the remotely located notification device through a remote communications transport. A memory stores interaction rules and translation rules, and a processor implements the interaction rules and translation rules to establish interaction with the notification device. Methods may involve detecting a change of state at a device and then communicating with the notification device in accordance with the interaction rules and translation rules thereafter. Methods may also involve directing a message from a notification device to a device of the environment, such as through the remote communication transport, and then communicating from the device of the environment to additional devices.

Notification device interaction

Growing community of inventors

Acworth, GA, United States of America

Andre D Jarboe