WO2008015369A1 - Call management - Google Patents

Call management Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2008015369A1
WO2008015369A1 PCT/GB2006/002868 GB2006002868W WO2008015369A1 WO 2008015369 A1 WO2008015369 A1 WO 2008015369A1 GB 2006002868 W GB2006002868 W GB 2006002868W WO 2008015369 A1 WO2008015369 A1 WO 2008015369A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
audio
notification
event
viewer
video
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2006/002868
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David Poupon
Franck Bachet
Original Assignee
Nds Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nds Limited filed Critical Nds Limited
Priority to PCT/GB2006/002868 priority Critical patent/WO2008015369A1/en
Publication of WO2008015369A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008015369A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
    • H04L65/1066—Session management
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/0012—Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
    • H04M7/0015—First party call control architectures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
    • H04M7/0024—Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services
    • H04M7/0033—Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/454—Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
    • H04N21/4542—Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/488—Data services, e.g. news ticker
    • H04N21/4882—Data services, e.g. news ticker for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/60—Details of telephonic subscriber devices logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to telephone call management, and in particular to, telephone call management during audio-video events.
  • Integrated telephone, television and Internet Protocol systems implemented via a set-top box are generally available to TV viewers, sometimes known as “triple play” or “quadruple play” systems.
  • a triple play system typically includes managing telephone services via a set-top box which is connected to a broadband Internet connection using the television or display device as a visual user interface for the telephone management.
  • the telephone services typically include receiving a visual call notification on the TV screen in addition to an audio call notification of the telephone ringing, ignoring a call, diverting a call to voice mail or video mail, rejecting a call, viewing caller logs and retrieving voice or • video mail, by way of example only.
  • the present invention seeks to provide improved telephone call management during viewing of audio-video events.
  • the system of the present invention in preferred embodiments thereof, includes a telephone call management system to suspend visual notification (on the television) and audio notification (by the telephone ringing) of telephone calls until after the end of an audio-video event. After the end of the event, the viewer is preferably offered to be informed of the details of any missed telephone calls as well as the ability to play back audio or video messages associated with the missed telephone calls.
  • a visual notification such as "You have an incoming call from Phone A"
  • the viewer then typically has the option of whether to: ignore the visual notification which typically disappears while the telephone is still ringing, accept the call (by picking up the telephone or pressing a suitable button on the telephone) in which the visual notification typically disappears automatically, reject or divert the telephone call to voicemail or another telephone (such as a mobile telephone) via an on-screen display on the television, by way of example only.
  • the viewer may not want to be disturbed by a visual nor audio notification of an incoming telephone call.
  • the telephone call management system is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of all, or only some, incoming telephone calls during a particular audio-video event.
  • a telephone call management system for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the system including a viewer input module to receive an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event, a call notification suspension module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the call notification suspension module being operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event, and an end of event determination module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the end of event determination module being operative to determine the end of the audio- video event.
  • the call notification suspension module is operative to cancel the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio- video event.
  • the at least one notification includes an identification of a caller.
  • the audio-video event is a broadcaster scheduled event
  • the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio- video event based on broadcast event information data.
  • the audio-video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session
  • the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session.
  • the audio-video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk, and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file.
  • the system includes a caller management module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the caller management module being operative to allow the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification.
  • the call notification suspension module is operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
  • the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
  • the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
  • the call notification suspension module is operative . to send a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
  • the system includes an electronic program guide module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the electronic program guide module being operative to manage an electronic program guide, wherein the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in the electronic program guide.
  • the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button.
  • the system includes a reporting module operationally connected to the end of event determination module, the reporting module being operative to automatically offer to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio- video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
  • the at least one notification includes a visual notification. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
  • a telephone call management method for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system including receiving an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event, suspending the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event, and determining the end of the audio-video event.
  • the method includes canceling the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio-video event.
  • the audio-video event is a broadcaster scheduled event, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on broadcast event information data.
  • the audio-video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session.
  • the audio-video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file.
  • the method includes allowing the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification, wherein the suspending is performed by suspending the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
  • the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
  • the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
  • the method includes receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in an electronic program guide.
  • the method includes receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes automatically offering to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio-video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
  • the at least one notification includes a visual notification.
  • the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
  • Fig. 1 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 suspending call notification until after the end of an event;
  • Fig. 3 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 rejecting or diverting a telephone call during suspension;
  • Fig. 4 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 receiving a telephone call from an excluded caller;
  • Fig. 5 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 repor rttiinngg missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the event;
  • Fig. 6 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system suspending call notification until after the end of an event constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 7 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 6 diverting telephone calls;
  • Fig. 8 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 6 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the event.
  • audio-video event is defined as an audio and video event for consumption by a viewer, the event either being broadcast to multiple users or replayed from disk or a remote server, for example, but not limited to, a video-on-demand server.
  • TV television
  • television any other suitable display screen for audio-video events may be used instead of a television.
  • Fig. 1 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the telephone call management system 10 is preferably implemented in a set-top-box 12.
  • the telephone call management system 10 is typically implemented as part of an integrated telephone-television system 14.
  • the integrated telephone-television system 14 typically includes: the set-top-box 12; a display device, such as a television 16; a residential gateway 18; and a telephone 20.
  • the integrated telephone-television system 14 is preferably a triple play-like system typically including managing telephone services via the set-top box 12 using the television 16 (or other suitable display device) as a visual user interface for the telephone management.
  • the telephone services typically include ignoring a call, diverting a call to voice/video mail or to another telephone such as a mobile telephone, rejecting a call, viewing caller logs and retrieving voice/video mail, by way of example only. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that it is only possible to receive video mail from callers with a suitable video enabled telephone.
  • the set-top-box 12 preferably includes a tuner (not shown), for example, but not limited to, a Digital Video Broadcasting Standard (DVB) tuner
  • a tuner for example, but not limited to, a Digital Video Broadcasting Standard (DVB) tuner
  • the set-top-box 12 is preferably operative to receive TV events via the tuner and via the Ethernet front end, as will be described below in more detail.
  • the television 16 is showing an audio-video event 38.
  • the set-top-box 12 is typically operationally connected to the residential gateway 18, thereby connecting the set-top-box 12 to the Internet, with a broadband connection.
  • the residential gateway 18 is typically a DSL modem or router by way of example only.
  • the residential gateway 18 is optionally extended with a Voice-over-IP Gateway (not shown) when the telephone 20 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone, thereby allowing the telephone 20 to use Voice-over-IP services via the residential gateway 18.
  • PSTN public switched telephone network
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • Gateway is generally not needed.
  • the set-top-box 12 is generally operationally connected to a TV broadcasting source, such as a satellite broadcast received via a satellite dish 22.
  • a TV broadcasting source such as a satellite broadcast received via a satellite dish 22.
  • the broadcasting source can be any suitable broadcasting source such as terrestrial or cable TV.
  • the set-top-box 12 is operative to receive TV events from Internet sources via the residential gateway 18.
  • the set-top-box 12 can be configured to receive TV events only via the Internet and in such a case the set-top-box 12 does not generally need a tuner, such as a DVB tuner.
  • a viewer 24 of the television 16 makes telephone calls from the telephone 20 via an IP phone service provider 26.
  • the telephone 20 is typically operationally connected to an IP phone platform 30 of the IP phone service provider 26 via the residential gateway 18.
  • the IP phone platform 30 is typically operationally connected to other telephones 28 in the network of the IP phone service provider 26.
  • the telephone 20 can also make telephone calls with a plurality of telephones 32 (only one being shown for the sake of clarity), the telephones 32 being outside the network of the IP phone service provider 26.
  • the telephones 32 are part of a telephone network 34 which is typically operationally connected to the IP phone platform 30 via a gateway 36 of the IP phone service provider 26.
  • the IP phone service provider 26 is typically connected to a plurality of other telephone networks using a plurality of associated gateways (only one gateway is shown for the sake of clarity). It should be noted that the IP phone service provider 26 is typically the same as the Internet Service Provider which provides the broadband Internet access via the residential gateway 18 to the viewer 24.
  • Fig. 2 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. I 5 suspending call notification until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1).
  • the set-top-box 12 preferably manages two connections with the IP phone service provider 26 via the residential gateway 18, namely, a self-care connection 40 and a real time communication management connection 42.
  • the self-care connection 40 is typically a non-permanent connection used for configuring telephone parameters (for example, but not limited to, voice mail configuration), retrieving call logs, managing audio/video messages, managing address books residing with the IP phone service provider 26 (if applicable).
  • the real time communication management connection 42 is a real time interface, typically a permanent connection, for phone event receptions and actions on incoming calls, such as, reject and divert to voicemail or another telephone, by way of example only.
  • a visual notification such as "You have an incoming call from Phone A” is displayed on the television 16 and an audio notification is performed by the telephone 20 ringing.
  • the visual notification typically includes the caller identification (ID), when the caller ID is available.
  • ID the caller ID
  • the viewer 24 then has the option of whether to accept the telephone call (by picking up the telephone 20 or by pressing a suitable button on the telephone 20), reject, ignore or divert the telephone call to voicemail or to another telephone, by way of example only.
  • the telephone call management system 10 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of all, or only some, incoming telephone calls during a particular audio-video event, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a viewer input module 44 to receive an instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend a visual and audio notification of all, or some, incoming telephone calls until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1). It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the instruction from the viewer 24 may be made at any time during the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1). Additionally, the instruction from the viewer 24 may be made before the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1), for example, but not limited to, for a next broadcast event.
  • the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes an electronic program guide module 46 typically operationally connected to the viewer input module 44.
  • the electronic program guide module 46 is preferably operative to manage an electronic program guide 48.
  • the viewer input module 44 is preferably operative to receive the instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend the visual and audio notification via a selection of the viewer 24 in the electronic program guide 48, for example, but not limited to, using a Zap banner application of the electronic program guide 48.
  • the viewer input module 44 is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend the visual and audio notification via a remote control signal 50 associated with pressing a dedicated button 52 on a remote control 54.
  • the telephone call management system 10 also preferably includes a call notification suspension module 56 typically operationally connected to the viewer input module 44.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification to the viewer 24 until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1).
  • the start time and date of the suspension is generally stored by the call notification suspension module 56.
  • the start time/date data is typically used for reporting purposes described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5.
  • the event is a broadcast event, the identification of the audio-video event 38 (Fig.
  • the identification of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1) is retrieved and stored by the call notification suspension module 56.
  • the identification of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1) is typically retrieved from broadcast event information data 58, for example, but not limited to, an "event_id" retrieved from present/following (p/f) data of an event information table (EIT).
  • the identification of the audio-video .event 38 (Fig. l) is typically used in determining the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1), by waiting for a change in the event information data 58, described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5. It should be noted that at any time before the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1) is typically retrieved from broadcast event information data 58, for example, but not limited to, an "event_id" retrieved from present/following (p/f) data of an event information table (EIT).
  • the identification of the audio-video .event 38 (Fig. l) is typically used in determining
  • the viewer 24 is able to manually cancel the suspension, for example, via the electronic program guide 48 and/or via a dedicated button (the same as, or different from, the dedicated button 52) on the remote control 54.
  • a dedicated button the same as, or different from, the dedicated button 52
  • Fig. 3 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 rejecting or diverting a telephone call during suspension.
  • the viewer 24 may still want to be notified of telephone calls from one or more callers during the audio- video event 38.
  • the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a caller management module 60 typically operationally connected to the call notification suspension module 56.
  • the caller management module 60 is preferably operative to allow the viewer to manage a list of excluded callers 62.
  • the callers included in the list of excluded callers 62 are excluded from the suspending of the visual and audio notification.
  • the list of excluded callers 62 includes calls from Phone B.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of incoming calls to the viewer 24, until after the end of the audio- video event 38, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list of excluded callers 62.
  • Phone A makes a telephone call to the telephone 20 during the suspension period.
  • the notification of the telephone call is routed by the IP phone service provider 26 via the real time communication management connection 42 and the residential gateway 18 to the telephone call management system 10 of the viewer 24.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 checks the list of excluded callers 62 via the caller management module 60 to see if the caller of the incoming call is included in the list of excluded callers 62.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 sends a message 66 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the real time communication management connection 42, to reject the incoming telephone call, if the viewer 24 has configured the telephone call management system 10 to reject incoming calls during "suspension".
  • the IP phone service provider 26 and the telephone call management system 10 are preferably operative such that the telephone call can be rejected before the telephone 20 has a chance to begin ringing.
  • the IP phone service provider 26 is preferably responsible for rejecting the communication with the calling party, Phone A in the example of Fig. 3.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 does not have to check the list of excluded callers 62 before rejecting the telephone call.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 is operative to send the message 66 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the real time communication management connection 42, to divert the incoming telephone call to a voice mail service 68 (or video mail service which is not shown) hosted by the IP phone service provider 26.
  • the IP phone service provider 26 and the telephone call management system 10 are preferably operative such that the telephone call can be diverted before the telephone 20 has a chance to begin ringing.
  • Diversion of incoming calls is typically the default action during notification suspension, whereas call rejection without call diversion is an option.
  • the IP phone service provider 26 logs the incoming telephone call from Phone A in a call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26.
  • Fig. 4 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 receiving a telephone call from an excluded caller, Phone B.
  • Phone B makes a telephone call to the telephone 20 during the suspension period.
  • the notification of the telephone call is routed by the IP phone service provider 26 via the real time communication management connection 42 and the residential gateway 18 to the telephone call management system 10 of the viewer 24.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 checks the list of excluded callers 62 via the caller management module 60 to see if the caller of the incoming call is included in the list of excluded callers 62.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 allows a visual notification 74 of the incoming telephone call to be displayed to the viewer 24 on the television 16.
  • the visual notification 74 includes an identification of the caller.
  • the telephone 20 also rings.
  • the viewer 24 decides to accept the telephone call from Phone B by picking up the telephone 20 or by pressing a button on telephone 20.
  • the setting-up and tearing down of the telephone call, including negotiating appropriate audio codecs for the telephone 20, is managed by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), via a connection 64, between the residential gateway 18 and the IP phone service provider 26. Audio exchanges of the media session (telephone call) are enabled by Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) via connection 64.
  • SIP Session Initiation Protocol
  • RTP Real-time Transport Protocol
  • the IP phone service provider 26 generally logs the incoming telephone call from Phone B in the call log 72.
  • Fig. 5 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3).
  • the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes an end of event determination module 76 typically operationally connected to the call notification suspension module 56.
  • the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3).
  • the call notification suspension module 56 preferably assumes that the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) has not been reached until the call notification suspension module 56 receives a cancellation message (not shown) from the end of event determination module 76 canceling the suspension of the visual and audio notification after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig- 3).
  • the call notification suspension module 56 checks the end of event determination module 76 each time a telephone call is received to see if the visual and audio notification are still being suspended (in other words to see if the end of the audio-video event 38 has been reached).
  • the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on a change in the event information data 58, for example, but not limited to, the "event_id" retrieved from present/following (p/f) data of the event information table (EIT).
  • the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session 78 (for example, but not limited to a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) session) from a VOD server 8O 5
  • the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio- video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on an end of the streaming session 78.
  • the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on reaching an end 86 of the file 84 during playback of the file 84.
  • the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a reporting module 88 typically operationally connected to the end of event determination module 76.
  • the reporting module 88 is preferably operative to automatically offer to display to the viewer via the television 16, after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) or after the notification suspension has been manually canceled, a list 90 of the incoming telephone calls having the visual and audio notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the suspension period of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3).
  • the list 90 includes a telephone call from phone A, the telephone call being rejected or diverted during the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3). Obviously, if there are no "suspended" incoming calls then the list 90 is empty and is not offered for display to the viewer.
  • the list 90 is preferably compiled using data transferred via the self- care connection 40 from the call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26.
  • the complete call log 72 is typically retrieved from the IP phone service provider 26 and then the call log 72 is filtered in the telephone call management system 10 by the reporting module 88 according to the time period of the "suspension".
  • the reporting module 88 retrieves data from the call log 72 using a date/time filter according to the time period of the period of "suspension". If the viewer 24 has used the caller management module 60 to manage the list of excluded callers 62, then the call log 72 may include telephone calls accepted by the viewer 24 during the suspension period, for example, the call from Phone B (see Fig. 4). Therefore, the call log 72 also needs to include data as to whether the call was accepted, rejected or diverted for the call log 72 to provide useful data when the list of excluded callers 62 is used.
  • Fig. 6 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system 92, suspending call notification until after the end of the event 38 constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the telephone call management system 92 is substantially the same as the telephone call management system 10 of Figs. 1-5, except for the following differences described with reference to Figs. 6-8.
  • the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification to the viewer 24 until after the end of the audio-video event 38 by sending a message 94 via the self-care connection 40 to the IP phone service provider 26 to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to the voice mail service 68 of the IP phone service provider 26, prior to the end of the audio-video event 38.
  • the caller management module 60 is preferably operative to manage an excluded caller list (not shown), resident on the IP phone service provider 26, via the self-care connection 40.
  • the IP phone service provider 26 also preferably manages an address book of the viewer 24 which the viewer 24 accesses via the self-care connection 40. Therefore, the TP phone service provider 26 is preferably able to exclude selected callers from the notification suspension.
  • Fig. 7 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 92 of Fig. 6 diverting telephone calls from Phone A and Phone B.
  • the telephone calls from Phone A and Phone B are diverted to the voice mail service 68.
  • the call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26 is updated with the diverted calls from Phone A and Phone B.
  • Fig. 8 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 92 of Fig. 6 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 7).
  • the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to cancel the suspension of the visual and audio notification after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 by sending a cancellation message 96 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the self-care connection 40, in order to cancel automatic incoming telephone call diversion to the voice mail service 68.
  • the reporting module 88 preferably compiles the list 90 from the call log 72 residing on the IP phone service provider 26, as described with reference to Fig. 5.

Abstract

A telephone call management system for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the system including a viewer input module to receive an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event, a call notification suspension module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the call notification suspension module being operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer until after the end of the audio-video event, and an end of event determination module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the end of event determination module being operative to determine the end of the audio-video event. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Description

CATJ, MANAGEMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telephone call management, and in particular to, telephone call management during audio-video events.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Integrated telephone, television and Internet Protocol systems implemented via a set-top box are generally available to TV viewers, sometimes known as "triple play" or "quadruple play" systems. A triple play system typically includes managing telephone services via a set-top box which is connected to a broadband Internet connection using the television or display device as a visual user interface for the telephone management. The telephone services typically include receiving a visual call notification on the TV screen in addition to an audio call notification of the telephone ringing, ignoring a call, diverting a call to voice mail or video mail, rejecting a call, viewing caller logs and retrieving voice or • video mail, by way of example only.
The following references are also believed to represent the state of the art:
US Patent 4,829,555 to Hashimoto;
US Patent 5,414,773 to Handelman, et al; US Patent 5,590,200 to Nachman, et al.;
US Patent 5,721,767 to Bae;
US Patent 5,774,527 to Handelman, et al.;
US Patent 5,917,892 to Lee;
US Patent 6,678,362 to Hong, et al; US Patent 6,882,709 to Sherlock, et al.;
US Published Patent Application 2002/0147988 of Nakano;
US Published Patent Application 2003/0086432 of Bartfeld, et al.; US Published Patent Application 2004/0091090 of Hong, et al.; US Published Patent Application 2006/0085832 of Groff, et al.;
PCT Published Patent Application WO 01/82567 of Hughes Electronics Corporation; European Published Patent Application EP 0720081 of AT&T
Corp.;
European Published Patent Application EP 1054533 of Pace Micro Technology PLC; and
Definitions of "Triple Play (telecommunications)", "Caller ID", and "Session Initiation Protocol" from wikipedia.org.
The disclosures of all references mentioned above and throughout the present specification, as well as the disclosures of all references mentioned in those references, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide improved telephone call management during viewing of audio-video events.
The system of the present invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, includes a telephone call management system to suspend visual notification (on the television) and audio notification (by the telephone ringing) of telephone calls until after the end of an audio-video event. After the end of the event, the viewer is preferably offered to be informed of the details of any missed telephone calls as well as the ability to play back audio or video messages associated with the missed telephone calls.
By way of introduction, when telephone calls are made to the viewer, a visual notification, such as "You have an incoming call from Phone A", is displayed on the television (or other suitable display) and the telephone rings. The viewer then typically has the option of whether to: ignore the visual notification which typically disappears while the telephone is still ringing, accept the call (by picking up the telephone or pressing a suitable button on the telephone) in which the visual notification typically disappears automatically, reject or divert the telephone call to voicemail or another telephone (such as a mobile telephone) via an on-screen display on the television, by way of example only.
During some audio-video events the viewer may not want to be disturbed by a visual nor audio notification of an incoming telephone call.
Therefore, the telephone call management system is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of all, or only some, incoming telephone calls during a particular audio-video event.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a telephone call management system for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the system including a viewer input module to receive an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event, a call notification suspension module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the call notification suspension module being operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event, and an end of event determination module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the end of event determination module being operative to determine the end of the audio- video event.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the call notification suspension module is operative to cancel the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio- video event.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes an identification of a caller.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a broadcaster scheduled event, and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio- video event based on broadcast event information data.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session, and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk, and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a caller management module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the caller management module being operative to allow the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the call notification suspension module is operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the call notification suspension module is operative . to send a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system includes an electronic program guide module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the electronic program guide module being operative to manage an electronic program guide, wherein the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in the electronic program guide.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a reporting module operationally connected to the end of event determination module, the reporting module being operative to automatically offer to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio- video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes a visual notification. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
There is also provided in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention a telephone call management method for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the method including receiving an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event, suspending the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event, and determining the end of the audio-video event.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes canceling the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio-video event.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a broadcaster scheduled event, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on broadcast event information data.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the audio-video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk, the method further including determining the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file. Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes allowing the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification, wherein the suspending is performed by suspending the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes sending a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in an electronic program guide.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes automatically offering to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio-video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes a visual notification.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 suspending call notification until after the end of an event;
Fig. 3 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 rejecting or diverting a telephone call during suspension;
Fig. 4 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 receiving a telephone call from an excluded caller;
Fig. 5 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 1 repor rttiinngg missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the event;
Fig. 6 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system suspending call notification until after the end of an event constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 6 diverting telephone calls; and
Fig. 8 is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the system of Fig. 6 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the event. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The term "audio-video event", as used in the specification and claims, is defined as an audio and video event for consumption by a viewer, the event either being broadcast to multiple users or replayed from disk or a remote server, for example, but not limited to, a video-on-demand server.
The term "television" (TV) is used by way of example only, and it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that any other suitable display screen for audio-video events may be used instead of a television.
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The telephone call management system 10 is preferably implemented in a set-top-box 12. The telephone call management system 10 is typically implemented as part of an integrated telephone-television system 14. The integrated telephone-television system 14 typically includes: the set-top-box 12; a display device, such as a television 16; a residential gateway 18; and a telephone 20.
The integrated telephone-television system 14 is preferably a triple play-like system typically including managing telephone services via the set-top box 12 using the television 16 (or other suitable display device) as a visual user interface for the telephone management. The telephone services typically include ignoring a call, diverting a call to voice/video mail or to another telephone such as a mobile telephone, rejecting a call, viewing caller logs and retrieving voice/video mail, by way of example only. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that it is only possible to receive video mail from callers with a suitable video enabled telephone.
The set-top-box 12 preferably includes a tuner (not shown), for example, but not limited to, a Digital Video Broadcasting Standard (DVB) tuner
(such as a DVB-T, DVB-S or DVB-C tuner), and an Ethernet front end (not shown). Therefore, the set-top-box 12 is preferably operative to receive TV events via the tuner and via the Ethernet front end, as will be described below in more detail. By way of example, the television 16 is showing an audio-video event 38.
The set-top-box 12 is typically operationally connected to the residential gateway 18, thereby connecting the set-top-box 12 to the Internet, with a broadband connection. The residential gateway 18 is typically a DSL modem or router by way of example only. The residential gateway 18 is optionally extended with a Voice-over-IP Gateway (not shown) when the telephone 20 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) telephone, thereby allowing the telephone 20 to use Voice-over-IP services via the residential gateway 18. When the telephone 20 is a pure Internet Protocol (IP) phone then the Voice-over-IP
Gateway is generally not needed.
The set-top-box 12 is generally operationally connected to a TV broadcasting source, such as a satellite broadcast received via a satellite dish 22. However, it will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the broadcasting source can be any suitable broadcasting source such as terrestrial or cable TV. Typically, the set-top-box 12 is operative to receive TV events from Internet sources via the residential gateway 18.
It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the set-top-box 12 can be configured to receive TV events only via the Internet and in such a case the set-top-box 12 does not generally need a tuner, such as a DVB tuner.
A viewer 24 of the television 16 makes telephone calls from the telephone 20 via an IP phone service provider 26. The telephone 20 is typically operationally connected to an IP phone platform 30 of the IP phone service provider 26 via the residential gateway 18. The IP phone platform 30 is typically operationally connected to other telephones 28 in the network of the IP phone service provider 26. The telephone 20 can also make telephone calls with a plurality of telephones 32 (only one being shown for the sake of clarity), the telephones 32 being outside the network of the IP phone service provider 26. The telephones 32 are part of a telephone network 34 which is typically operationally connected to the IP phone platform 30 via a gateway 36 of the IP phone service provider 26. It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the IP phone service provider 26 is typically connected to a plurality of other telephone networks using a plurality of associated gateways (only one gateway is shown for the sake of clarity). It should be noted that the IP phone service provider 26 is typically the same as the Internet Service Provider which provides the broadband Internet access via the residential gateway 18 to the viewer 24.
Reference is now made to Fig. 2, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. I5 suspending call notification until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1).
The set-top-box 12 preferably manages two connections with the IP phone service provider 26 via the residential gateway 18, namely, a self-care connection 40 and a real time communication management connection 42. The self-care connection 40 is typically a non-permanent connection used for configuring telephone parameters (for example, but not limited to, voice mail configuration), retrieving call logs, managing audio/video messages, managing address books residing with the IP phone service provider 26 (if applicable). The real time communication management connection 42 is a real time interface, typically a permanent connection, for phone event receptions and actions on incoming calls, such as, reject and divert to voicemail or another telephone, by way of example only.
When telephone calls are made to the telephone 20, a visual notification, such as "You have an incoming call from Phone A" is displayed on the television 16 and an audio notification is performed by the telephone 20 ringing. The visual notification typically includes the caller identification (ID), when the caller ID is available. The viewer 24 then has the option of whether to accept the telephone call (by picking up the telephone 20 or by pressing a suitable button on the telephone 20), reject, ignore or divert the telephone call to voicemail or to another telephone, by way of example only. During some audio-video events the viewer 24 may not want to be disturbed by a visual nor audio notification of an incoming call. Therefore, the telephone call management system 10 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of all, or only some, incoming telephone calls during a particular audio-video event, as will be described in more detail below.
The telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a viewer input module 44 to receive an instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend a visual and audio notification of all, or some, incoming telephone calls until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1). It will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the instruction from the viewer 24 may be made at any time during the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1). Additionally, the instruction from the viewer 24 may be made before the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1), for example, but not limited to, for a next broadcast event.
The telephone call management system 10 preferably includes an electronic program guide module 46 typically operationally connected to the viewer input module 44. The electronic program guide module 46 is preferably operative to manage an electronic program guide 48. The viewer input module 44 is preferably operative to receive the instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend the visual and audio notification via a selection of the viewer 24 in the electronic program guide 48, for example, but not limited to, using a Zap banner application of the electronic program guide 48.
Additionally or alternatively, the viewer input module 44 is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend the visual and audio notification via a remote control signal 50 associated with pressing a dedicated button 52 on a remote control 54. The telephone call management system 10 also preferably includes a call notification suspension module 56 typically operationally connected to the viewer input module 44. The call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification to the viewer 24 until after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1). The start time and date of the suspension is generally stored by the call notification suspension module 56. The start time/date data is typically used for reporting purposes described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5. When the event is a broadcast event, the identification of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1) is retrieved and stored by the call notification suspension module 56. The identification of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1) is typically retrieved from broadcast event information data 58, for example, but not limited to, an "event_id" retrieved from present/following (p/f) data of an event information table (EIT). The identification of the audio-video .event 38 (Fig. l)is typically used in determining the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1), by waiting for a change in the event information data 58, described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5. It should be noted that at any time before the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 1), the viewer 24 is able to manually cancel the suspension, for example, via the electronic program guide 48 and/or via a dedicated button (the same as, or different from, the dedicated button 52) on the remote control 54. Once cancellation is performed, an option to view missed calls during the suspension period is given to the viewer 24, described in more detail with reference to Fig. 5.
Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 rejecting or diverting a telephone call during suspension.
Even though the viewer 24 generally does not want to be disturbed by the visual and audio notifications during the audio-video event 38, the viewer 24 may still want to be notified of telephone calls from one or more callers during the audio- video event 38.
Therefore, the telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a caller management module 60 typically operationally connected to the call notification suspension module 56. The caller management module 60 is preferably operative to allow the viewer to manage a list of excluded callers 62. The callers included in the list of excluded callers 62 are excluded from the suspending of the visual and audio notification. In the example of Fig. 3, the list of excluded callers 62 includes calls from Phone B. So3 the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification of incoming calls to the viewer 24, until after the end of the audio- video event 38, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list of excluded callers 62.
In the example of Fig. 3, Phone A makes a telephone call to the telephone 20 during the suspension period. The notification of the telephone call is routed by the IP phone service provider 26 via the real time communication management connection 42 and the residential gateway 18 to the telephone call management system 10 of the viewer 24. If the incoming call from phone A is accompanied by a caller ID, then the call notification suspension module 56 checks the list of excluded callers 62 via the caller management module 60 to see if the caller of the incoming call is included in the list of excluded callers 62. As Phone A is not included in the list of excluded callers 62, the call notification suspension module 56 sends a message 66 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the real time communication management connection 42, to reject the incoming telephone call, if the viewer 24 has configured the telephone call management system 10 to reject incoming calls during "suspension". The IP phone service provider 26 and the telephone call management system 10 are preferably operative such that the telephone call can be rejected before the telephone 20 has a chance to begin ringing. The IP phone service provider 26 is preferably responsible for rejecting the communication with the calling party, Phone A in the example of Fig. 3.
It should be noted that if the incoming call is not accompanied by a caller ID, the call notification suspension module 56 does not have to check the list of excluded callers 62 before rejecting the telephone call.
If the viewer 24 has configured the telephone call management system 10 to divert incoming calls to voice/video mail during "suspension" of the notifications, the call notification suspension module 56 is operative to send the message 66 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the real time communication management connection 42, to divert the incoming telephone call to a voice mail service 68 (or video mail service which is not shown) hosted by the IP phone service provider 26. The IP phone service provider 26 and the telephone call management system 10 are preferably operative such that the telephone call can be diverted before the telephone 20 has a chance to begin ringing.
Diversion of incoming calls is typically the default action during notification suspension, whereas call rejection without call diversion is an option. The IP phone service provider 26 logs the incoming telephone call from Phone A in a call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 receiving a telephone call from an excluded caller, Phone B. In the example of Fig. 4, Phone B makes a telephone call to the telephone 20 during the suspension period. The notification of the telephone call is routed by the IP phone service provider 26 via the real time communication management connection 42 and the residential gateway 18 to the telephone call management system 10 of the viewer 24. The call notification suspension module 56 checks the list of excluded callers 62 via the caller management module 60 to see if the caller of the incoming call is included in the list of excluded callers 62. As Phone B is included in the list of excluded callers 62, the call notification suspension module 56 allows a visual notification 74 of the incoming telephone call to be displayed to the viewer 24 on the television 16. The visual notification 74 includes an identification of the caller. The telephone 20 also rings. In the example of Fig. 4, the viewer 24 decides to accept the telephone call from Phone B by picking up the telephone 20 or by pressing a button on telephone 20. The setting-up and tearing down of the telephone call, including negotiating appropriate audio codecs for the telephone 20, is managed by the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), via a connection 64, between the residential gateway 18 and the IP phone service provider 26. Audio exchanges of the media session (telephone call) are enabled by Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) via connection 64.
The IP phone service provider 26 generally logs the incoming telephone call from Phone B in the call log 72. Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 10 of Fig. 1 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3). The telephone call management system 10 preferably includes an end of event determination module 76 typically operationally connected to the call notification suspension module 56. The end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3).
The call notification suspension module 56 preferably assumes that the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) has not been reached until the call notification suspension module 56 receives a cancellation message (not shown) from the end of event determination module 76 canceling the suspension of the visual and audio notification after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig- 3). In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, the call notification suspension module 56 checks the end of event determination module 76 each time a telephone call is received to see if the visual and audio notification are still being suspended (in other words to see if the end of the audio-video event 38 has been reached). When the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) is a broadcaster scheduled event, the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on a change in the event information data 58, for example, but not limited to, the "event_id" retrieved from present/following (p/f) data of the event information table (EIT). When the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session 78 (for example, but not limited to a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) session) from a VOD server 8O5 the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio- video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on an end of the streaming session 78. When the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) is a disk 82 sourced event associated with a filed 84 stored in the disk 82, the end of event determination module 76 is preferably operative to determine the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) based on reaching an end 86 of the file 84 during playback of the file 84.
The telephone call management system 10 preferably includes a reporting module 88 typically operationally connected to the end of event determination module 76. The reporting module 88 is preferably operative to automatically offer to display to the viewer via the television 16, after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3) or after the notification suspension has been manually canceled, a list 90 of the incoming telephone calls having the visual and audio notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the suspension period of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3). In the example of Fig. 5, the list 90 includes a telephone call from phone A, the telephone call being rejected or diverted during the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 3). Obviously, if there are no "suspended" incoming calls then the list 90 is empty and is not offered for display to the viewer. The list 90 is preferably compiled using data transferred via the self- care connection 40 from the call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26. The complete call log 72 is typically retrieved from the IP phone service provider 26 and then the call log 72 is filtered in the telephone call management system 10 by the reporting module 88 according to the time period of the "suspension". Alternatively, the reporting module 88 retrieves data from the call log 72 using a date/time filter according to the time period of the period of "suspension". If the viewer 24 has used the caller management module 60 to manage the list of excluded callers 62, then the call log 72 may include telephone calls accepted by the viewer 24 during the suspension period, for example, the call from Phone B (see Fig. 4). Therefore, the call log 72 also needs to include data as to whether the call was accepted, rejected or diverted for the call log 72 to provide useful data when the list of excluded callers 62 is used.
Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of a telephone call management system 92, suspending call notification until after the end of the event 38 constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention. The telephone call management system 92 is substantially the same as the telephone call management system 10 of Figs. 1-5, except for the following differences described with reference to Figs. 6-8.
When the viewer input module 44 receives the instruction from the viewer 24 to suspend the visual and audio notification of the incoming telephone calls until after the end of the audio-video event 38, the call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to suspend the visual and audio notification to the viewer 24 until after the end of the audio-video event 38 by sending a message 94 via the self-care connection 40 to the IP phone service provider 26 to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to the voice mail service 68 of the IP phone service provider 26, prior to the end of the audio-video event 38.
Therefore, all incoming calls made to the telephone 20 are typically automatically diverted by the IP phone service provider 26 to the voice mail service 68.
Additionally, the caller management module 60 is preferably operative to manage an excluded caller list (not shown), resident on the IP phone service provider 26, via the self-care connection 40. The IP phone service provider 26 also preferably manages an address book of the viewer 24 which the viewer 24 accesses via the self-care connection 40. Therefore, the TP phone service provider 26 is preferably able to exclude selected callers from the notification suspension.
Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 92 of Fig. 6 diverting telephone calls from Phone A and Phone B. The telephone calls from Phone A and Phone B are diverted to the voice mail service 68. The call log 72 of the IP phone service provider 26 is updated with the diverted calls from Phone A and Phone B.
Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which is a partly pictorial, partly block diagram view of the telephone call management system 92 of Fig. 6 reporting missed incoming telephone calls after the end of the audio-video event 38 (Fig. 7).
The call notification suspension module 56 is preferably operative to cancel the suspension of the visual and audio notification after the determined end of the audio-video event 38 by sending a cancellation message 96 to the IP phone service provider 26, via the self-care connection 40, in order to cancel automatic incoming telephone call diversion to the voice mail service 68.
The reporting module 88 preferably compiles the list 90 from the call log 72 residing on the IP phone service provider 26, as described with reference to Fig. 5.
It is appreciated that software components of the present invention may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read only memory) form. The software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques. It will be appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment, for example, but not limited to, the telephone call management system 10 and the telephone call management system 92 may be combined into a single embodiment which includes an option for the call notification suspension module 56 to instruct the IP phone service provider 26 to reject/divert each incoming telephone call as the telephone calls are made or to instruct the IP phone service provider 26 to divert all incoming calls until the suspension service is canceled.
Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. It will also be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the invention is defined only by the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:CLAIMS
1. A telephone call management system for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the system comprising: a viewer input module to receive an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event; a call notification suspension module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the call notification suspension module being operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event; and an end of event determination module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the end of event determination module being operative to determine the end of the audio-video event.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the call notification suspension module is operative to cancel the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio-video event.
3. The system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one notification includes an identification of a caller.
4. The system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein: the audio- video event is a broadcaster scheduled event; and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on broadcast event information data.
5. The system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein: the audio- video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session; and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session.
6. The system according to any of claims 1-3, wherein: the audio- video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk; and the end of event determination module is operative to determine the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file.
7. The system according to any of claims 1-6, further comprising a caller management module operationally connected to the call notification suspension module, the caller management module being operative to allow the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the call notification suspension module is operative to suspend the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
9. The system according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
10. The system according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
11. The system according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the call notification suspension module is operative to send a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
12. The system according to any of claims 1-11, further comprising an electronic program guide module operationally connected to the viewer input module, the electronic program guide module being operative to manage an electronic program guide, wherein the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in the electronic program guide.
13. The system according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the viewer input module is operative to receive the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button.
14. The system according to any of claims 1-13, further comprising a reporting module operationally connected to the end of event determination module, the reporting module being operative to automatically offer to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio-video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
15. The system according to any of claims 1-14, wherein the at least one notification includes a visual notification.
16. The system according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
17. A telephone call management method for a viewer of an integrated telephone-television system, the method comprising: receiving an instruction from the viewer to suspend at least one notification of at least some incoming telephone calls until after an end of an audio-video event; suspending the at least one notification to the viewer only until after the end of the audio-video event; and determining the end of the audio-video event.
18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising canceling the suspension of the at least one notification after the determined end of the audio- video event.
19. The method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the audio- video event is a broadcaster scheduled event, the method further comprising determining the end of the audio-video event based on broadcast event information data.
20. The method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the audio- video event is a video-on-demand event associated with a streaming session, the method further comprising determining the end of the audio-video event based on an end of the streaming session.
21. The method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the audio- video event is a disk sourced event associated with a filed stored in the disk, the method further comprising determining the end of the audio-video event based on reaching an end of the file during playback of the file.
22. The method according to any of claims 17-21, further comprising allowing the viewer to manage a list of at least one caller excluded from the suspending of the at least one notification, wherein the suspending is performed by suspending the at least one notification to the viewer, until after the end of the audio-video event, of the incoming telephone calls associated with callers not included in the list.
23. The method according to any of claims 17-22, further comprising sending a message to a phone server provider to reject one of the at least some incoming telephone calls, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
24. The method according to any of claims 17-22, further comprising sending a message to a phone server provider to divert one of the at least some incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
25. The method according to any of claims 17-21, further comprising sending a message to a phone server provider to divert all of the incoming telephone calls to a voice/video mail service, prior to the end of the audio-video event.
26. The method according to any of claims 17-25, further comprising receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a selection of the viewer in an electronic program guide.
27. The method according to any of claims 17-25, further comprising receiving the instruction from the viewer to suspend the at least one notification via a remote control signal associated with pressing a dedicated remote control button.
28. The method according to any of claims 17-27, further comprising automatically offering to display for the viewer, after the determined end of the audio-video event, a list of the incoming telephone calls having the at least one notification of the incoming telephone calls suspended during the audio-video event.
29. The method according to any of claims 17-28, wherein the at least one notification includes a visual notification.
30. The method according to any of claims 17-29, wherein the at least one notification includes an audio notification.
PCT/GB2006/002868 2006-08-01 2006-08-01 Call management WO2008015369A1 (en)

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