Patent ID: 6971120
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of providing user-chosen telephone services through a digital cable TV set-top box, the digital cable TV set-top box coupled to a cable network headend with a service provider's telephone network also coupled to the cable network headend, the method comprising the steps of: scanning for an available downstream channel on the cable network by a set-top box; synchronizing with the available downstream channel by the set-top box; synchronizing, through the cable network headend and over the available downstream channel, with the service provider's telephone network by the set-top box; downloading telephone service programs and data from the service provider's telephone network to the set-top box by the service provider; executing the programs downloaded to the set-top box by the user to select a user-chosen telephone service; entering data selections made by the user in the set-top box; storing the user selections in the set-top box; and using the user selections by the set-top box to provide a user-chosen telephone service to the user.