Patent ID: 7571458

Claim:
A television messaging gateway for handling messages, said gateway being adapted to operate in conjunction with a television distribution system having a central location connected to a video downstream network constructed to carry video signals and distribute said signals to a plurality of terminals connected thereto, wherein at least one of said terminals is constructed to selectively display said video signal on a television screen, and an upstream network capable of delivering user input signals from a remote location to said central location, wherein said television messaging gateway is adapted for operating in conjunction with a messaging server constructed to store and forward messages and is implemented in part at a central location and in part in a user premises, said television messaging gateway comprising: a message control interface adapted to couple to said messaging server for controlling at least one message therein, said message having address information associated therewith, to associate said message with at least one user, wherein the messaging server comprises a database for storing and recording a default subscriber location and other subscriber locations, and the messaging server reads the default subscriber location from the database using a telephone number and further requests the subscriber to enter a current telephone number if no record is found in the database; a video output module for generating video frame signals corresponding to said message or a portion thereof, wherein said module is adapted to couple to the downstream network for outputting said video frame signals on a television coupled to an addressable terminal at the default subscriber location or other subscriber locations; an input device interface adapted to connect to said upstream network for receiving user input signals inputted using a telephone; logic for directing said message between said message control interface and said video output module; and, logic for displaying a super-imposed message waiting indication for said message on a television channel being viewed.