Abstract:
The method of providing audiovisual telecommunications to consumers is achieved by identifying the consumer, providing an information appliance having a network connection, and collecting fees from an audio-visual content provider. The information appliance has a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection and a video processor connected to the network connection. Audio-visual content is then provided to the information appliance. A network media bridge server is provided to manage the delivery of media to an A/V telecommunication device. The network media bridge uses a network connection to link the network to an A/V telecommunication device, and a media connection connected to a content provider. The network media bridge provide content to the A/V telecommunication device in response to processing commands.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/592,845, entitled “DISPARATE NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATION DEVICE” filed on Jul. 30, 2004, having J. Hutton Pulitzer, listed as the inventor Ser. No. 60/592,793, entitled “ALWAYS-ON AUDIO/VISUAL COMMUNICATION NETWORK DEVICE” filed on Jul. 30, 2004, having J. Hutton Pulitzer, listed as the inventor Ser. No. 60/592,847, entitled “A/V NETWORK USING A TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE” filed on Jul. 30, 2004, having J. Hutton Pulitzer, listed as the inventor, and Ser. No. 60/598,504, entitled “METHOD OF PROVIDING A/V TELECOMMUNICATIONS TO CONSUMERS” filed on Aug. 3, 2004, having J. Hutton Pulitzer, listed as the inventor, the entire content of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to the field of video telephony, in particular to an integrated multi-network video telephones.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The combination of video and audio channels provide a unique platform for interpersonal communication. With the availability of broadband Internet network connections in the home, there is an opportunity to provide further methods of interaction between content providers and consumers.  
         [0004]     What is needed, therefore, is a system and method of providing a broadband information appliance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Audio-visual telecommunications are provided to consumers by identifying a consumer and providing an information appliance comprising a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection, and a video processor connected to the network connection. Audio-visual content is provided to the information appliance and fees are collected from an audio-visual content provider.  
         [0006]     The network media bridge server provides content to the A/V telecommunication device in response to processed commands.  
         [0007]     The picture files stored in memory are displayed by the video processor on a video display.  
         [0008]     A method of developing a VOIP network includes identifying a potential VOIP customer.  
         [0009]     Each customer may be provided with an A/V telecommunication device and with VOIP telecommunication service.  
         [0010]     A method of transforming general media content for delivery to an A/V telecommunication device is performed by inputting general media content and transforming the general media content to an A/V telecommunication format. The transformed content is delivered to an A/V telecommunication device.  
         [0011]     A method of generating media content for an A/V telecommunication device is performed by generating media content and formatting the generated media content in an A/V telecommunication format. The formatted media content is then stored for delivery to an A/V telecommunication device.  
         [0012]     A method of providing content at a remote location may be performed by providing an A/V telecommunication device at a remote location and sending content to said A/V telecommunication device. The content provider may receive inputs from said remote location. An A/V communication session may be established with said A/V telecommunication device in response to said inputs.  
         [0013]     A method of presenting promotional content on an A/V telecommunication device including a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection, and a video processor connected to the network connection, may be performed by providing first promotional content to a television at a predetermined time and providing related promotional content to the A/V telecommunication device at about the same time.  
         [0014]     A method of requesting media content on an A/V telecommunication device including a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection a video processor connected to the network connection and manual inputs communicably connected to the . . . network connection may be performed by engaging a manual input to send a request for media content and receiving media content at the A/V telecommunication device in response to the request.  
         [0015]     A method of requesting product information in an A/V telecommunication system having an A/V telecommunication device with a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection and a video processor connected to the network connection, may be performed by recognizing input as a product information request and sending a product information request to a server. The A/V telecommunication device receives A/V media content in response to said product information request.  
         [0016]     An information appliance includes a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection to provide two-way communication and a video processor connected to the network connection. Audio and video communications are sent from a content provider to the network connection. Audio and video communications are distributed to a information appliance. Audio and video communications are sent from the information appliance via the network to a content provider.  
         [0017]     An information appliance includes a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection to provide two-way communication and a video processor connected to the network connection. When information appliance sends a media request through the network connection to a server such that media is sent from a variety of media sources to the information appliance in response to said media request.  
         [0018]     An information appliance includes a network connection, a telecommunications processor connected to the network connection to provide two-way communication and a video processor connected to the network connection.  
         [0019]     The information appliance remains in a powered state such that media may be continually sent to the information appliance from a variety of media sources.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a household broadband information appliance;  
         [0022]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a handset for a household broadband information appliance;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of one aspect of a household broadband information appliance;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram of another aspect of a household broadband information appliance;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a flowchart for a method of providing A/V telecommunications to a consumer;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a flow chart for another method of providing a/v telecommunications to a consumer;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates an A/V telecommunication system including a networked media bridge  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates a system including an integrated photo server and A/V telecommunication  FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of a method of developing a VOIP network.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart defining a process of transforming general media content to an A/V telecommunication format.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart defining a process of transforming general media content to an A/V telecommunication format device.  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a flowchart of a process for generating media content for an A/V telecommunication device.  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates an A/V telecommunication system from providing private network broadcasts.  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  illustrates a system for providing synchronized promotional content.  
         [0034]      FIG. 13  illustrates an A/V telecommunication system.  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  illustrates a system for requesting product information.  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  illustrates an optical command telecommunications system.  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  illustrates a disparate network communication system.  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  illustrates an always-on A/V communication network device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0039]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used to designate like elements throughout the various views, several embodiments of the present invention are further described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated or simplified for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following examples of possible embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0040]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a functional depiction of a broadband information appliance  100  is shown. The broadband information appliance  100  includes a base unit  101 . The base unit  101  typically houses the processing circuits, memory storage, interfaces  105 , manual inputs  102  and power connections. The base unit  101  may be attached to a display  103 . The display  103  may be integral with the base unit  101 . The display  103  may be an independent unit fixedly attached to the base unit  101 . The display  103  may be interchangeably attached to the base unit  101  such that the display  103  may be easily exchanged for a different display  103 .  
         [0041]     Base unit  101  may include manual inputs  102 . Typically the manual inputs  102  may include a standard telephone keypad with ten numeric buttons plus “#” and “*” buttons. The manual inputs  102  may further include any number of other buttons, switches, thumbwheels or other appropriate manual input devices. A wide variety of functions and features may be controlled using the manual inputs  102 . Manual inputs  102  may include navigation keys or a joystick for up, down, right and left selections, programmable soft keys. Power and status LEDs may also be provided.  
         [0042]     Base unit  101  may be connected to a handset  104 . Handset  104  may be substantially a standard telephone handset including a microphone and speaker. Handset  104  may be directly connected to the base unit  101 . A handset  104  directly connected to the base unit  101  may be called a “tethered” or “wired” handset. Handset  104  may also include a wireless transceiver for wireless connection to a base unit including (or connected to) a wireless transceiver. The wireless transceivers may be a 2.4 gigahertz transceivers or may use any other suitable wireless transceiver frequency. The wireless transceivers may be spread spectrum transceivers. A handset  104  wirelessly connected to the base unit may be called a “wireless” handset.  
         [0043]     Base unit  101  may be connected to an interface  105 . Typically, interface  105  will be integral with base unit  101 . Interface  105  includes an interface for connection to network  106 . Network  106  may be an open network such as the Internet. Interface  105  includes interface connections  107  for connecting the base unit  101  to a variety of peripherals or networks. Typically, the interface  105  will provide Ethernet ports, telephone handset and keypad support, video capture and display ports including NTSC composite input and output ports, S-video ports, NTSC camera ports and LCD display ports. The interface  105  may include audio capture and reproduction ports, an external microphone port, an external speaker port, two audio line level inputs, a handsfree speakerphone,  
         [0044]     A digital video camera  115  may be connected to base unit  101 . Typically digital video camera  1105  is a CCD camera device. The digital video camera  115  maybe integral with the base unit  101  or the display  103 . An additional digital video camera  137  may be integral with the handset  104 . A privacy shield  141  may be a cover provided to disable the digital video camera  137  by covering the lens of the digital video camera  137 .  
         [0045]     With reference to FIG. IA, a more detailed depiction of the features that may be incorporated into handset  104  is shown. The handset  104  typically includes a speaker  135  and a microphone  136  to provide standard audio communication. Handset  104  may include a digital video camera  137 , typically at one end of the handset  104 . A scanner  138  may be provided on the handset  104  to read machine readable codes or to scan image data. An LCD display  139  may be provided on the handset  104  to allow the user to see the input from digital video camera  137 , show video data being shown on display  103  when the handset  104  is being used remotely from the base  101 . The handset display  139  may also show alternate visual data. The handset  104  may include further manual inputs  140  to control the video camera  137 , handset display  139 , scanner  138 .  
         [0046]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a functional block diagram of a basic broadband information appliance  100  is shown. A gateway  110  provides an interface to network  106 . The gateway communicates with voice over-internet-protocol (VOIP) hardware  111  and video hardware  114 . The VOIP hardware  114  may be directly connected to wired handset  104  or may be connected to a cordless base unit  112  which provides wireless communication with a cordless handset  113 . The video hardware  114  may be connected to a video camera  115  and a display  103 .  
         [0047]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a more detailed functional block diagram of a broadband information appliance  100  is shown. A gateway  110  provides communication with one or more networks  106 . Gateway  110  maybe a Micrel KS8695P processor. The gateway  110  typically acts as the master boot processor for the broadband information appliance  100 . The gateway  110  is typically an integrated, multi-port PCI bridge system on a chip. The KS8695P integrates an ARM922T CPU, a PCI bridge that can support up to 3 external PCI masters and a 5-port switch with integrated media access controllers and low power Ethernet PHYs. The PCI interface can be connected gluelessly to miniPCI or cardbus wireless LAN cards that support 802.11 alglb. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other processors, chips or configurations could be used for the gateway  110 .  
         [0048]     The KS8695P gateway processor includes five Ethernet MAC and PHY, 101100 Base-Transceivers. It includes a PCI bridge and Master arbiter of up to 3 external PCI 2.1 compliant controllers, supporting a 32 bit data bus as 33 MHz clock speed. The, processor includes a memory controller for glueless synchronous DRAM support at 133 MHz access of up to 32 MB. The processor has a standard memory bus for SRAM and flash ROM, 32 bit address, 32 bit data up to 32 MB, with general purpose I/0 pins and a JTAG port.  
         [0049]     Gateway  110  provides one or more external Ethernet ports. Gateway  110  includes Ethernet ports for both uplink  116  and downlink  117  connections. Typically, uplink  116  and downlink  117  are integrated, however according to some embodiments, separate communication links may be provided for the uplink  116  and downlink  117 , particularly where bandwidth limitations make it advisable to provide greater bandwidth for the downlink  117  than the uplink  116 .  
         [0050]     Gateway  119  maybe connected to a link controller  119 , a USB host controller  120 , a miniPCI slot  121  or other interfaces. Gateway  119  maybe connected to gateway memory  118 . Gateway memory  118  may be flash memory, SDRAM or other suitable memory device.  
         [0051]     Gateway  119  may be connected to a VOID processor  111 . A VOIP processor  111  is a communication processor for audio codec and telephone management. The VOID processor  1  I may be a Telogy TNETV 1050 DSP. The VOIP processor may include a MIPS32 reduced instruction set computer processor and a C55 DSP. The RISC processor software supplies overall system services and performs user interface, network management, protocol stack management, call processing and task scheduling functions. The DSP software provides real-time voice processing functions such as echo cancellation, compression, pulse-code modulation data processing and tone generation and detection.  
         [0052]     Two 101100 Base-T Ethernet MAC and PHY are included with integrated layer-2 three-port Ethernet switches. On-chip peripherals include an 8×8 keypad interface, USB controller host, universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter serial interface, a programmable serial port, several general-purpose input outputs and integrated voltage regulator.  
         [0053]     The integrated dual channel 16-bit voice coder/decoder integrates the critical functions needed for IP phone applications, including two analog-to-digital converters and two digital to analog converters. Other features include analog and digital sidetone control, filter, programmable gain options, a programmable sampling rate, 8-speaker driver, microphone, handset and headset interfaces.  
         [0054]     The VOIP processor III may include dual Ethernet MAC and PHY, 101100 base transceivers. The VOIP processor I  11  may include a speaker and microphone for handset, headset, and optional input and output sources. The VOID processor  111  may include a PC and Palm compatible IrDA transceiver, a RS-232 serial port, a USB host port, general purpose I/0 pins for LED and configuration options. The VOIP processor  111  may include synchronous DRAM, 133 MHz up to 128 MB, a standard memory bus, a JTAG port and HP Logic analyzer connectors. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other VOID processors may be used as suitable.  
         [0055]     VOID processor  111  maybe connected to a VOIP memory 112-VOID memory  112  maybe a flash memory, SDRAM or other suitable memory devices. The VOID hardware  111  may be connected to a handset  104  or a cordless base  112  which provides wireless communication with a cordless handset  113 . The VOID hardware  111  may be connected to manual input devices  102 , a microphone  124 , a speaker  123 . VOIP hardware  111  may be connected to an alpha-numeric keyboard  125 .  
         [0056]     Gateway  110  may be connected to video processor  114 . The video processor  114  is a video codec and LCD panel controller. The VOID processor  111  may be a TI TMS320DM642 digital signal processor. The digital signal processor may be based on the second-generation high-performance advanced Velocin very-long-word-instruction (VLIW) architecture. The digital signal processor may provide 4800 million instructions per second at a clock rate of 600 MH2. The DSP offers operational flexibility of high speed controllers and the numerical capability of array processors. A DSP core processor has 64 general purpose registers of 32-bit word length and eight independent functional units including two multipliers for 32 bit word length and six arithmetic logic units. The DSP provides extensions in the eight functional units including new instructions to accelerate performance in video and imaging applications to extend parallelism. The DSP can produce four 32-bit multiply accumulates per cycle for a total of 2400 million MACS per second or eight 8-bit MACs per cycle for a total of 4800 million MACs. The DSP may have application specific hardware logic, on-chip memory and additional on-chip peripherals.  
         [0057]     The DSP typically uses a two-level cache-based architecture. A Level 1 program cache is a 128-Kbit direct mapped cache and a Level 1 data cache is a 128-Kbit 2-way set associative cache. A Level 2 memory cache consists of a 2-Mbit-memory space that is shared between program and data space. Level 2 memory can be configured as mapped memory.  
         [0058]     The peripheral set may include configurable video ports; a 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet MAC; a management data input/output; a VCXO interpolated control port; a multichannel buffered audio serial port; an inter-integrated circuit bus module; two multichannel buffered serial ports; three 32 bit general purpose timers; a user-configurable 16-bit or 32-bit host port interface; a peripheral component interconnect; a 16-ping general-purpose input/output port with programmable interruptJeven generation modes; and a 64-bit glueless external memory interface which is capable of interfacing to synchronous and asynchronous memories and peripherals.  
         [0059]     The DSP may have three configurable video port peripherals. These video port peripherals provide a glueless interface to common video decoder and encoder devices. The DSP video port peripherals support multiple resolutions and video standards. The video ports peripherals are configurable and can support video capture and video display modes. Each video port may include two channels with a 5120 byte capture/display buffer that is split-able between the two channels.  
         [0060]     The DSP may include three video ports including a capture port interfaced with a Philips SAA7115 decoder with integrated multiplexer for NTSC, S-video sources; display port interfaced with Philips SAA7105 NTSC and S-video encoder and a third port dedicated to an LCD panel. The DSP may include Ethernet MAC 101100 Base-Transceivers. The DSP may include general purpose I/0 pins and a JTAG port. The DSP may be a synchronous DRAM 64-bit wide, 133 MHz up to I GB support. The DSP may include a standard asynchronous memory bus 32 bit. The DSP may include HP logic analyzer connectors for memory bus address, data and control signals. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other DSP processors may be implemented.  
         [0061]     The video processor  114  may be connected to a video memory  128 . Video memory  128  may be a flash memory, SDRAM or other suitable memory device. The video processor  114  may be connected to an video decoder  126 . Video decoder  126  may be a NTSC decoder. Video decoder  126  may receive video signals from an external source  127  or a video camera  115 . The video processor  114  may be connected to a video encoder  129 . The video encoder  129  may be an NTSC encoder. The video encoder  129  may be integral with a CSC  133  to provide video signals to an RGB/LCD panel  132 . The video encoder  129  may provide video signals to an LCD panel  130  and a CV/S/RGB output.  
         [0062]     The gateway  110 , VOIP processor  111  and video processor  114  may be mutually connected to a CPLD decoder  134 .  
         [0063]     The broadband information appliance  100  may include smart media access, an infrared transceiver, an unpowered firewire port, fast peripheral ports, a wireless interface, Bluetooth support and a HomePlug interface.  
         [0064]     The broadband information appliance  100  maybe an AC powered device, using residential power distribution of 120 VAC at 60 Hz or 230 VAC at 50H_ A power adapter may convert the AC power to 12 volts DC.  
         [0065]     The broadband information appliance typically includes three memory module, particularly the gateway memory  118 , the VOID memory  122  and the video memory  128 . SDRAM memory may be connected through each of the direct SDRAM interfaces in the DSP and gateway processors. SDRAM may be rated to operate at  133  MHz and terminated with discrete components. Dedicated SDRAM for each processor may be used.  
         [0066]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a method of providing A/V communications to consumers  226  is shown. The household broadband information appliance  100  functions as a multiple-terminal adapter fully integrated with a telecommunications device. Customers are solicited and identified in function block  228 . Each identified customer is provided with a household broadband information appliance  100  at function block  230 . Typically, the hardware is provided for free in exchange for a subscription contract. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the household broadband information appliance  100  could be provided without cost to the consumer and without a subscription fee or contract. The household broadband information appliance collects data regarding the consumer, the consumers demographics and personal buying habits at function block  233 . Audio-visual content is provided to the household broadband information appliance  100  at function block  234 . The consumer data collected at function block  232  may be used to select or tailor the audio-visual content provided. The content-provider pays for access to the consumer via the household broadband information appliance at function block  236 .  
         [0067]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention provides a broadband information appliance. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, the invention includes any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.  
         [0068]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a method of providing A/V communications to consumers  226  is shown. The household broadband information appliance  100  functions as a multiple-terminal adapter fully integrated with a telecommunications device. Customers are solicited and identified in function block  228 . Each identified customer is provided with a household broadband information appliance  100  at function block  230 . Typically, the hardware is provided for free in exchange for a subscription contract. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the household broadband information appliance  100  could be provided without cost to the consumer and without a subscription fee or contract. The household broadband information appliance collects data regarding the consumer, the consumers demographics and personal buying habits at function block  233 . Audio-visual content is provided to the household broadband information appliance  100  at function block  234 . The consumer data collected at function block  232  may be used to select or tailor the audio-visual content provided. The content-provider pays for access to the consumer via the household broadband information appliance at function block  236 .  
         [0069]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a household broadband information appliance system  206  is shown. A household broadband information appliance  100  at a physical location  214  is connected to a network  106 . A host server  202  is connected to the network  106 . The host server  202  receives signals from the household broadband information appliance  100  and sends information to the household broadband information appliance  100 . The server  202  is further connected, either directly or through a network  106 , to a content provider  204 , a call center  208 , an email server  210 , a print distribution center  212  or other media sources.  
         [0070]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an always-on A/V communication network system  216  is shown. The HBIA  100  is connected to a display  103 , a handset  104 , a video camera  115  and speaker  123 . The HBIA  100  is further connected to a network  106 . Because the HBIA  100  provides telephone service, it is typically left in a powered state, so that telephone calls may be received at any time. A host server  202  is connected to the network  106  and manages the supply of content to the HBIA  100  from one or more content providers  204 .  
         [0071]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a household broadband information appliance system  206  is shown. A household broadband information appliance  100  at a physical location  214  is connected to a network  106 . A host server  202  is connected to the network  106 . The host server  202  receives signals from the household broadband information appliance  100  and sends information to the household broadband information appliance  100 . The server  202  is further connected, either directly or through a network  106 , to a content provider  204 , a call center  208 , an email server  210 , a print distribution center  212  or other media sources.  
         [0072]     Upon request from the household broadband information appliance  100 , the host server  202  communicates with one or more of the media sources to provide content to the HBIA  100 . In response to a request for more information about a product, for example, the host server may connect the HBIA  100  to a call center  208  which provides a two-way interface with a human representative. The call center  208  may direct, in response to interaction with the HBIA, the delivery of other forms of media including video, email or print.  
         [0073]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an MV communication network  224  is shown. The AV communication network  224  includes an HBIA  100  connected to a network  106 . The HBIA  100  communicates via the network  106  to a host server  202 . Host server  202  communicates with a content provider  204  to provide content specific for distribution to the HBIA  100 . Because each HBJA  100  is uniquely associated with a household or user, the selection of content sent by the content provider  204  may be tailored for the demographics of the specific household or user.  
         [0074]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an A/V telecommunication system  200  with a network media bridge server  202  is shown. The network media bridge server  202  combines, schedules, directs or manages the delivery of content from various content providers  204  to the A/V telecommunication device  100  over network  106 . The content may include Internet media, web-based media, information, entertainment, communications and promotional content. The server  202  acts a bridge for the content provided by content providers  204 .  
         [0075]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a system  264  providing an integrated digital picture server and A/V telecommunication device  100  is shown. The A/V telecommunication device  100  includes a visual display  103  and a memory device  140  such as flash memory or a hard-drive. Still picture files taken with a video camera may be input to the A/V telecommunication device via the flash drive  140 , an I/O connection  107 , from CCD camera  115  or over the network  106 . The still picture files may be stored on the memory device  140  and displayed on display  103 , The display of the picture files may be manually directed or may be tied to automatic display functions so that the picture files are displayed at intervals on display  103 . The pictures files may be stored on memory  221  of the host server  202  and delivered to the A/V telecommunication device in a similar fashion.  
         [0076]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart  276  for a process of generating a VOIP network. To develop a network, customers with the A/V telecommunication device and a connection to a network is needed. Potential customers are identified at function block  278 . Each customer is provided with an A/V telecommunication device at function block  280 . The A/V telecommunication device may be provided to the customer at a discount, at cost, at below cost or for free. Each customer is provided with telecommunication service at function block  282 . The telecommunication service may be provided at a discount, free for a specified period or quantity of communication time, or may be provided without charge for an indefinite period.  
         [0077]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart  284  defining a process of transforming general media content to an A/V telecommunication format is shown. General media content, including television shows, movies, commercials, videos, print, web content, etc., is input at function block  286 . The general media content is transform or translated into an A/V telecommunication format at function block  288 . The transformed content is delivered to an A/V telecommunication device  100  at function block  290 .  
         [0078]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart defining a method of providing individual consumer programmed and/or scheduled audio or video based media served over an A/V telecommunication device  100  in combination with VOIP and a multi-media viewing screen  294  is shown. The media content is generated at function block  296 . The media content is formatted for the A/V telecommunication device  100  at function block  298 . The formatted media content is stored at function block  300 . The stored formatted media content may be delivered to an A/V telecommunication device  100 .  
         [0079]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an A/V telecommunication system for the distribution of a private broadcasting network is shown. A content provider  204  typically establishes the presence of associated A/V telecommunication devices  184  in locations where consumers may desire information from the content provider  204 . For example, a product manufacturer may provide associated A/V telecommunication devices  184  in retail locations where their products are sold. The associated AW telecommunication device  184  may provide a constant audio-visual display of content from content provider  204 . When a consumer input, through server  202  and network  106  requests communication with content provider  204  or further media content, the content provider  204  establishes communication with an associate or provides the requested media content.  
         [0080]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a system for synchronous promotional content broadcast on an A/V telecommunication device  100  is shown. An A/V telecommunication device  100  having a display  103  is connected to a network  106  such as the Internet, A host server  202  is communicably connected to the A/V telecommunications device  100  via network  106 . The host server  202  is also in communication with a content provider  204 . Cooperation between the host server  202  and the content provider  204  allows media content to be sent to a television  164  by a TV source  162  associated with the content provider  204  at the same time or in some synchronous relationship with the broadcast of the same or related promotional content to the A/V telecommunication device  100 . For example, a commercial may be broadcast on television  164 . When the commercial is finished playing on television  164 , a related commercial may play on A/V telecommunication device  100 , allowing the advertisers to reach consumer through coordinated media content.  
         [0081]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an A/V telecommunication system including the delivery of media content in response to a code input is shown. A/V telecommunication device  100  may include manual inputs  102  including a numeric keypad, a keyboard, an array of buttons, switches or other manual inputs. A user may request media content from a content provider  204  by pressing a key, or any predetermined sequence of manual inputs. The request may come through the host server  202  connected to the A/V telecommunication device  100  and the content provider by network  106 .  
         [0082]     When the media content has been requested, the content provider  204  sends the media content to the A/V telecommunication device  100 , perhaps for viewing on display  103 .  
         [0083]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , a system for providing product information on an A/V telecommunications device  100  is shown. A/V telecommunication device  100  may receive product input as a result of a product code scan using scanner  138 . The product code may be printed on the product, a catalog, an advertisement or any other form of distribution. The product code may be entered with a sequence of inputs using the manual inputs, such as entering a product identifier code. The input of a product code is recognized by the AVTD  100  and a request containing the product identifier is sent via network  106  to server  202 . The server  202  may correlate the product identifier with a content provider  204  using relational data in memory  221 . The product identifier may be an address and require no correlation for direct connection to the content provider  204 . A connection is established between the content provider  204  and the A/V telecommunication device  100 . The connection may typically be a two-way A/V communication connection, including the presentation of A/V media content. The content provider  204  may provide A/V media regarding the product including product information, hi this way, a consumer can request product information by scanning a catalog and receive A/V media content or a two-way video telephony conversation regarding the product information.