Granted Patent B1

US 12,273,588 · App. 18/619,941 · Granted Apr 8, 2025

Inventor: Thomas M. Rutledge (New Canaan, CT)

Assignee: CSC Holdings, LLC

H04N21/44218H04N5/76H04N21/2187H04N21/4147H04N21/4333H04N21/44204H04N21/4882H04N21/6587H04N21/4784H04N21/812

Abstract

Claims (92)

1. A method for activating an existing feature associated with a service that is offered by a service provider, the method comprising:

disabling, by a set-top box, the existing feature until an occurrence of an event, the existing feature not included in a tier of service that is associated with a user of the service;

activating, by the set-top box, the existing feature for a limited period of time in response to the occurrence of the event;

allowing, by the set-top box, the user to use the existing feature during the limited period of time;

disabling, by the set-top box, the existing feature upon expiration of the limited period of time; and

activating, by the set-top box, the existing feature after the expiration of the limited period of time in response to the tier of service being upgraded to include the existing feature.

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

a receipt of a telephone call;

a receipt of a caller identification (ID) telephone prompt;

a receipt of an electronic message; or

a receipt of a doorbell notification or a security camera notification.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating comprises enabling the existing feature to be activated during an enablement interval in response to the occurrence of the event.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the enablement interval comprises a prompt duration, and

wherein the activating further comprises:

displaying, by the set-top box, a prompt during the prompt duration to indicate an availability of the existing feature and information relating to the event in response to the occurrence of the event;

receiving, by the set-top box, an input from the user during the enablement interval in response to the displaying; and

performing, by the set-top box, the existing feature in response to receiving the input from the user.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the prompt comprises:

a telephone number and name associated with a caller identification (ID) telephone;

a live video feed from a security camera; or

an instruction for the user, or

wherein the input comprises:

an indication of a button press by the user on a remote control that is associated with the set-top box; or

a selection of an icon by the user from video being displayed by the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

configuring the set-top box to detect one or more first events from among a plurality of events and to ignore one or more second events from among the plurality of events, and

wherein the event is from among the one or more first events.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more second events comprise:

a receipt of an electronic message related to operation of an appliance;

a receipt of an electronic message that is not marked as urgent; or

a receipt of an electronic message that is not received from a specific sender.

8. A set-top box for activating an existing feature associated with a service that is offered by a service provider, the set-top box comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions, when executed by the processor, configuring the processor to:

disable the existing feature until an occurrence of an event, the existing feature not included in a tier of service that is associated with a user of the service,

activate the existing feature for a limited period of time in response to the occurrence of the event,

allow the user to use the existing feature during the limited period of time,

disable the existing feature upon expiration of the limited period of time, and

activate the existing feature after the expiration of the limited period of time in response to the tier of service being upgraded to include the existing feature.

9. The set-top box of claim 8 , wherein the event comprises:

a receipt of a telephone call;

a receipt of a caller identification (ID) telephone prompt;

a receipt of an electronic message; or

a receipt of a doorbell notification or a security camera notification.

10. The set-top box of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to enable the existing feature to be activated during an enablement interval in response to the occurrence of the event.

11. The set-top box of claim 10 , wherein the enablement interval comprises a prompt duration, and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

display a prompt during the prompt duration to indicate an availability of the existing feature and information relating to the event in response to the occurrence of the event;

receive an input from the user during the enablement interval in response to the displaying; and

perform the existing feature in response to receiving the input from the user.

12. The set-top box of claim 11 , wherein the prompt comprises:

a telephone number and name associated with a caller identification (ID) telephone;

a live video feed from a security camera; or

an instruction for the user, or

wherein the input comprises:

an indication of a button press by the user on a remote control that is associated with the set-top box; or

a selection of an icon by the user from video being displayed by the set-top box.

13. The set-top box of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further configure the processor to configure the set-top box to detect one or more first events from among a plurality of events and to ignore one or more second events from among the plurality of events, and

wherein the event is from among the one or more first events.

14. The set-top box of claim 13 , wherein the one or more second events comprise:

a receipt of an electronic message related to operation of an appliance;

a receipt of an electronic message that is not marked as urgent; or

a receipt of an electronic message that is not received from a specific sender.

15. A set-top box for activating an existing trick play mode associated with a service that is offered by a service provider, the set-top box comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive a broadcast stream from the service provider; and

a processor coupled to the communications interface, the processor being configured to:

playback the broadcast stream on a display device;

disable the existing trick play mode until an occurrence of an event, the existing trick play mode not included in a tier of service that is associated with a user of the service,

activate the existing trick play mode for a limited period of time in response to the occurrence of the event,

allow the user to use the existing trick play mode during the limited period of time,

disable the existing trick play mode upon expiration of the limited period of time, and

activate the existing trick play mode after the expiration of the limited period of time in response to the tier of service being upgraded to include the existing trick play mode.

16. The set-top box of claim 15 , wherein the event comprises:

a receipt of a telephone call;

a receipt of a caller identification (ID) telephone prompt;

a receipt of an electronic message; or

a receipt of a doorbell notification or a security camera notification.

17. The set-top box of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to enable the existing trick play mode to be activated during an enablement interval in response to the occurrence of the event.

18. The set-top box of claim 17 , wherein the enablement interval comprises a prompt duration, and

wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a prompt during the prompt duration to indicate an availability of the existing feature and information relating to the event in response to the occurrence of the event;

receive an input from the user during the enablement interval in response to the displaying; and

perform the existing feature in response to receiving the input from the user.

19. The set-top box of claim 18 , wherein the prompt comprises:

a telephone number and name associated with a caller identification (ID) telephone;

a live video feed from a security camera; or

an instruction for the user, or

wherein the input comprises:

an indication of a button press by the user on a remote control that is associated with the set-top box; or

a selection of an icon by the user from video being displayed by the set-top box.

20. The set-top box of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to configure the set-top box to detect one or more first events from among a plurality of events and to ignore one or more second events from among the plurality of events, and

wherein the event is from among the one or more first events.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (84)