Set-Top Box Voice Mail via VOD Transcoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable network systems face difficulties in providing access to voice mail services through set-top boxes due to legacy equipment design, which is not optimized for interactive voice mail or data-intensive services, leading to limited integration with video services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to retrieve voice mail messages from a voice mail server and transcode them into a format compatible with set-top boxes, allowing playback as part of a video on demand (VOD) file, enabling access and control via standard VOD controls, including text information for enhanced accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If voice mail services are provided through conventional telephone access and data connections, then voice mail accessibility is achieved, but integration with video services and set-top box access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the voice mail server accessible through multiple interfaces (telephone network and video network/set-top boxes) by implementing universal access protocols. The server can handle both traditional telephony requests and video network requests through standardized API calls, allowing one system to serve multiple functions and access methods without requiring separate voice mail systems for each network type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (application programming interface and transcoder) that bridges the telephone network and video network. This intermediary translates requests from the video network into formats the voice mail server can understand, and converts voice mail output into formats suitable for video network delivery, thereby enabling integration without direct complex connections between all components.
2Ease of operation
If set-top boxes are upgraded to support interactive voice mail services, then voice mail accessibility via video services is improved, but hardware upgrade costs and deployment complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing set-top boxes to access voice mail services using their existing capabilities and interfaces. Rather than requiring the set-top boxes to be modified or upgraded with specialized voice mail hardware, the system allows them to access voice mail through their standard video service interfaces and existing processing capabilities, making the existing equipment serve itself for the new function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the set-top boxes to access voice mail (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by making the voice mail server accessible through the video network interface. The voice mail server is adapted to receive and process requests from the video network, reversing the traditional model where the client device (set-top box) would need to be adapted to access the service.
3Reliability
If voice mail messages are delivered in original audio format, then audio quality is maintained, but compatibility with set-top box playback and video formats is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a transcoder that changes the parameters of the voice mail message format. The transcoder converts voice mail messages from their original audio format (such as GSM or AMR) into formats compatible with video network delivery (such as MP3 or AAC). This parameter transformation maintains the essential audio quality while making the content adaptable to different playback devices and video network requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The transcoder creates a copy of the voice mail message in a different format. Rather than converting the original message in place, the system creates a formatted copy that is optimized for video network delivery while the original message remains intact in its source format, preserving both quality and compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for retrieving and providing voice mail messages from a server are described. In accordance with the invention voice mail messages may be retrieved via requests made via a set top box. Voice mail messages are retrieved in response to the request from a voice mail server which is also accessible via the telephone network. Retrieved voice mail is transcoded and included in a video on demand (VOD) file. Text, call ID information and/or other information as, e.g., an automatically generated transcript of the voice mail message, may be included in the VOD file. The VOD file is supplied to a VOD server which provides the file including the message to the set top box for display. A user can view the messages and switch from viewing one message to the next by using video play back commands.