Method and system for conveying SMS messages via a TV communication infrastructure for receipt by a TV set-top box

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a short message service (SMS) message destined to a television (TV) set-top box, wherein said SMS message includes a unique identification (ID) of said TV set-top box;

(b) storing said SMS message in a memory;

(c) cross-referencing said unique ID in a database so as to determine a unique address of said TV set-top box;

(d) extracting from said database an identification of a group member to whom said SMS message is directed;

(e) forwarding to said TV set-top box data relating to said SMS message, wherein said data includes a notification, separate from said SMS message, for alerting a user of said TV set-top box that said SMS message has arrived at a TV communication gateway;

(f) receiving a logon request that identifies said unique address of said TV set-top box; and after receiving said logon request:

(g) obtaining said SMS message from said memory; and

(h) sending said SMS message to said TV set-top box.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said data includes a content of said SMS message.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further including:

scrambling said data prior to forwarding said data to said TV set-top box.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said data includes coordinates for displaying said notification at a specified location on a TV set coupled to said TV set-top box.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said data includes an instruction for one of illuminating an indicator lamp and displaying an indication on a display coupled to said TV set-top box.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of said receiving, and cross-referencing operations is performed by a cellular service system.

7. A television (TV) communication gateway comprising:

an input port configured to receive a short message service (SMS) message destined to a TV set-top box, wherein said SMS message includes a unique identification (ID) of said TV set-top box;

a processor, coupled to said input port, configured to cross-reference said unique ID in a database so as to determine a unique address of said TV set-top box, and extract from said database an identification of a group member to whom said SMS message is directed;

a memory coupled to said processor, configured to store said SMS message;

an output port coupled to said processor, configured to forward data relating to said SMS message to said TV set-top box;

a data formatter to format said data, wherein said data includes a notification, separate from said SMS message, for alerting a user of said TV set-top box that said SMS message has arrived at said TV communication gateway; and

a logon request unit that receives and processes a logon request that identifies said unique address of said TV set-top box,

wherein, after said logon request unit receives and processes said logon request, said TV communication gateway:

obtains said SMS message from said memory; and

sends said SMS message to said TV set-top box.

8. The TV communication gateway according to claim 7 , wherein said data includes a content of said SMS message.

9. The TV communication gateway according to claim 8 , further including:

a scrambling unit, coupled to said processor, configured to scramble said data prior to conveying said data to said TV set-top box.

10. The TV communication gateway according to claim 7 , wherein said data formatter is configured to format said data to include coordinates for displaying, in response to receipt of notification to alert said user that an SMS message has arrived, a user notice at a specified location on a TV set coupled to said TV set-top box.

11. The TV communication gateway according to claim 7 , wherein said data formatter is configured to format said data to include, in response to receipt of notification to alert said user that an SMS message has arrived, an instruction for one of illuminating an indicator lamp and displaying an indication on a display coupled to said TV set-top box.

12. A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a processor, said program storage medium including instructions to:

receive a short message service (SMS) message destined to a television (TV) set-top box, wherein said SMS message includes a unique identification (ID) of said TV set-top box;

store said SMS message in a memory;

cross-reference said unique ID in a database so as to determine a unique address of said TV set-top box;

extract from said database an identification of a group member to whom said SMS message is directed;

forward to said TV set-top box data relating to said SMS message, wherein notification data separate from said SMS message is also sent to said TV set-top box prior to said SMS message in order to alert a user of said TV set-top box that said SMS message has arrived at a TV communication gateway;

receive a logon request that identifies said unique address of said TV set-top box; and

after receiving said logon request:

obtain said SMS message from said memory; and

send said SMS message to said TV set-top box.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

instructions to receive a short message service (SMS) message destined to a television (TV) set-top box, wherein said SMS message includes a unique identification (ID) of said TV set-top box;

instructions to store said SMS message in a memory;

instructions to cross-reference said unique ID in a database so as to determine a unique address of said TV set-top box;

instructions to extract from said database an identification of a group member to whom said

SMS message is directed;

instructions to forward to said TV set-top box data relating to said SMS message, wherein notification data separate from said SMS message is also sent to said TV set-top box prior to said SMS message in order to alert a user of said TV set-top box that said SMS message has arrived at a TV communication gateway;

instructions to receive a logon request that identifies said unique address of said TV set-top box; and

instructions to, after receiving said logon request:

obtain said SMS message from said memory; and

send said SMS message to said TV set-top box.