At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation

At&t Delaware Intellectual Property Corporation, Inc.

David Alberto Levine

James Carlton Bedingfield, Sr

Dale W Malik

James A Worsham

Greg N Patterson

Anita H Simpson

John A McClenny

Zhiqiang Zeeman Zhang

Sunil H Contractor

Ping Song

Hong Nguyen

David Brux DeLorme

Gregory Nelson Patterson

Brett S Bowman

Alex Q Tilson

Zhigiang Zeeman Zhang

Z Zeeman Zhang

A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a power-off command for the display device. Furthermore, the method includes displaying a prompt on the display device, wherein the prompt comprises an instruction to confirm that the display device is active via a confirmation input. The method further includes directing, responsive to the determining that the confirmation input has not been received, a source device to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box.

System and method to manage a content stream

A method and system for remote control of multimedia content using a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) is configured to establish a connection between a customer premises equipment (CPE) gateway and a local area network (LAN) device that is a personal user device. A user of the LAN device may be authenticated. Responsive to user input, the LAN device may send remote control messages corresponding to remote control functions for an MCDN terminal device. The CPE gateway may determine a network address for the MCDN terminal device, and forward the remote control messages to the addressed MCDN terminal device. The LAN device may so remotely control the addressed MCDN terminal device.

Remote control via local area network

A method includes identifying, at a media device, a viewing zone of a plurality of viewing zones associated with a display device. Each viewing zone of the plurality of viewing zones corresponds to a different spatial region of a plurality of spatial regions relative to the display device, where each viewing zone has a corresponding spatial region. The method further includes selecting a video stream based on the viewing zone. The method further includes sending the video stream from the media device to the display device.

Location based media display

Systems and methods to allow a user to control viewed content. A particular method includes receiving at least one selected video stream of multiple video streams associated with a particular event. The method includes forming an output stream from the at least one selected video stream based on a user modifiable template. The method also includes sending the output stream to a display device for playback as indicated by the user modifiable template. The user modifiable template indicates a display region location where the at least one selected video stream is to be displayed.

Systems and methods to control viewed content

A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a signal at the set-top box device from an external power interface. The signal indicates that a low power state has been detected at a power outlet of the external power interface, the power outlet associated with the display device. Further, the method includes sending a signal to a source of the content stream in response to receiving the signal indicating the low power state. The signal indicates that the source is to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box device.

A communication network includes a switching system, an application server, and a softswitch that communicatively couples the application server to the switching system. The switching system is configured to detect a first call to a primary directory number associated with a phone line and to forward the first call to the application server. The application server is configured to instruct the softswitch to generate a second call to a RingMaster directory number associated with the phone line. And the softswitch is configured to bridge the first and second calls responsive to detection of a communication path completion to the phone line.

Communication networks in which an application server and multiple directory numbers are used to provide internet protocol like features to time division multiplexed phone lines

A method and system implements supplementary media channels to Internet-protocol television (IPTV) channels. An IPTV user may receive a selected IPTV program on an IPTV channel. The IPTV program may be correlated in time with metadata describing the content of the IPTV program. At a point in the IPTV program, the metadata may match with user configuration information for receiving supplemental content. A supplementary media channel may be used at such point to provide the supplemental content to the IPTV user during the IPTV program. Supplemental content may include additional storyline content for the IPTV program or an advertising message, a redeemable coupon, a promotional offer, or an order invitation. The supplementary media channel may include a telephone connection with the IPTV user, an email message, a text message, or an instant message sent to the IPTV user, or a voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) connection with the IPTV user.

Television content through supplementary media channels

A method includes receiving media content of a particular program at a media device. The media content of the particular program is received via a plurality of video streams, where each of the plurality of video streams is associated with a different viewing perspective. The method includes determining locations of one or more viewers of a display device relative to a plurality of viewing zones of the display device. The method also includes selecting a video stream of the particular program to display to each viewer of the one or more viewers based on the location of each viewer. One video stream is selected for each viewer, and different video streams are selected for viewers in different viewing zones. The method further includes sending the selected video streams to the display device from the media device.

Systems and methods for displaying an e-mail message are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes the act of classifying at least one recipient as trusted or suspect. The recipient is specified by the e-mail message. The method also includes the act of displaying the at least one recipient using a first visual cue if the classification is suspect. The method also includes the act of displaying the at least one recipient using a second visual cue if the classification is trusted. In one embodiment, a system includes a means for classifying at least one recipient as trusted or suspect, and an e-mail message display window. The recipient is specified by the e-mail message. The window is configured to display the at least one recipient using a first visual cue if the classification is suspect. The window is configured to display the recipient using a second visual cue if the classification is trusted.

Systems and methods for displaying electronic mail messages

Unanswered calls route to voicemail after a variable number of ring cycles based on a history with the voicemail user. The history may include the caller's identity, the user's answering history, and user preferences. If the caller is not identified, an unanswered call may go to voicemail after a default number of ring cycles. If a caller has a history of previous calls to the user/called party, that history may increase or decrease the default number of ring cycles for that caller. For example, callers whose previous calls to the voicemail user have been answered may receive more ring cycles before going to voicemail. Conversely, callers whose previous calls to the user/called party were unanswered may receive a reduced number of ring cycles before going to voicemail. The number of ring cycles may also be adjusted where the call answering history suggests the called party is unavailable during certain times.

Growing community of inventors

Smyrna, GA, United States of America

David Alberto Levine