IP Library Granted Patent US 8,112,449
Granted Patent B2
US 8,112,449 · App. 10/632,661 · Granted Feb 7, 2012

Systems and methods for implementing a content object access point

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,112,449
App. No.
10/632,661
Granted
Feb 7, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for accessing and distributing content objects. Various of the systems and methods utilize a number of content object entities that can be sources and/or destinations for content objects. A combination of abstraction and distinction engines can be used to access content objects from a source of content objects, format and/or modify the content objects, and redistribute the modified content object to one or more content object destinations. In some cases, an access point is included that identifies a number of available content objects, and identifies one or more content object destinations to which the respective content objects can be directed.

Claims (39)

1. A method for utilizing content objects by a content access point within a customer's premises, wherein the method comprises:

creating, at the content access point, a first list of available content objects and a respective format of each available content object, wherein the content access point is implemented by a demarcation device that isolates the customer's premises network from a provider's network, the demarcation device comprising a broadband modem;

creating, at the content access point, a second list of content object entities and one or more respective formats that each content object entity is capable of supporting;

creating, at the content access point, a guide indicating available content objects and, for each particular available content object, one or more content object entities to which that particular content object can be directed, based at least in part on the first list and the second list, each of the one or more content object entities being a separate device that is capable of displaying that particular content object;

accessing, with the content access point, a first content object from a first content object entity within the customer's premises, wherein the first content object is in a first content format compatible with the first content object entity and wherein the first content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page;

abstracting, with the content access point, the first content object to create a second content object in an abstract format, wherein the abstract format is compatible with a plurality of content formats;

distinguishing, at the content access point, the second content object to create a third content object, wherein the third content object is in a second content format that is compatible with a second content object entity within the customer's premises, wherein the third content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the third content object is different from the first content format; and

providing, from the content access point, the third content object to the second content object entity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

accessing a fourth content object from a third content object entity wherein the fourth content object is in a third content format compatible with the third content object entity, wherein the fourth content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, a document object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the fourth content object is different from the first content format and the second content format;

abstracting the fourth content object to create a fifth content object; and

combining the fifth content object with the second content object, wherein the combination of the second and fifth content objects are distinguished to create the third content object.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first content object is a video object, and wherein the fourth content object is an audio object.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein abstracting the first content object includes separating an audio portion from a video portion of the video object.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first content object is a video object, and wherein the fourth content object is an Internet object.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first content object entity is different from the second content object entity.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the third content object entity is selected from a group consisting of an appliance control system, a telephone information system, a storage medium including video objects, a storage medium including audio objects, an audio stream source, a video stream source, a human interface, the Internet, and an interactive content entity.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first content object entity is different from the second content object entity and the third content object entity.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a content object associated with one of the first plurality of content object entities that has expired; and

removing the identified content object.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first content object is a video object, wherein abstracting the first content object includes removing a visual portion of the video object, and wherein the second content object includes an audio portion of the video object.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first content object comprises a voicemail and the third content object comprises an email.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first content object comprises an email and the third content object comprises a voicemail.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: limiting access to the first and second content objects to conform with terms of a license to the first content object.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the demarcation device is incorporated within a premises network interface device (“NID”) that is affixed to an external wall of the customer's premises.

17. A content access point for utilizing content objects by a content access point within a customer's premises, the content access point comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for controlling operation of the content access point, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions for creating a first list of available content objects and a respective format of each available content object, wherein the content access point is located within a demarcation device that isolates the customer's premises network from a provider's network;

instructions for creating, at the content access point, a second list of content object entities and one or more respective formats that each content object entity is capable of supporting;

instructions for creating, at the content access point, a guide indicating available content objects and, for each particular available content object, one or more content object entities to which that particular content object can be directed, based at least in part on the first list and the second list, each of the one or more content object entities being a separate device that is capable of displaying that particular content object;

instructions for accessing a first content object from a first content object entity within the customer's premises, wherein the first content object is in a first content format compatible with the first content object entity and wherein the first content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page;

instructions for abstracting the first content object to create a second content object in an abstract format, wherein the abstract format is compatible with a plurality of content formats;

instructions for distinguishing the second content object to create a third content object, wherein the third content object is in a second content format that is compatible with a second content object entity within the customer's premises, wherein the third content object is selected from a group consisting of a voicemail object, an email object, a video object, an audio object, and an Internet web page, and wherein the third content object is different from the first content format; and

instructions for providing the third content object to the second content object entity;

wherein the content access point is implemented by a demarcation device that isolates the customer's premises network from a provider's network, the demarcation device comprising a broadband modem.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE (REEL 066874 / FRAME 0793) Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 075405/0877 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2024
From: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A, AS SUCCESSOR TO WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 066885/0917 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Mar 22, 2024
From: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066874/0793 →
NOTES SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051692/0646 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044652/0829 →
RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNEE'S STATE OF INCORPORATION IN THE ATTACHED ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 014975/FRAME 0033 Recorded Oct 4, 2004
From: CASEY, STEVEN M.; PHILLIPS, BRUCE A.
To: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 015222/0535 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2004
From: CASEY, STEVEN M.; PHILLIPS, BRUCE A.
To: QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 014975/0033 →