Method, system and apparatus for announcing caller information over a television link

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for announcing caller information to users over a television link. The method comprises receiving, via a portion of a data network adapted for handling Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signalling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the SIP signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party. The method further comprises attempting to establish a telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a communication network in response to the receiving. The method further comprises releasing the portion of the SIP signalling information to a processing entity to cause delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, the indication based on the information regarding an origin of the incoming call.

1 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method performed by at least one network element in a communication network managed by a service provider, comprising:
 receiving, via a portion of a data network within the communication network adapted for handling Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the SIP signaling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party; and   responsive to said receiving:
 attempting to establish a telephony link with a VoIP device associated with the destination party over the communication network; and 
 causing delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding an origin of the incoming call. 
   
     
     
         70 . The method of claim  1 , wherein receiving the SIP signalling information comprises receiving a SIP invite message. 
     
     
         71 . The method of claim  1 , wherein said CLID information comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address; and wherein said information regarding an identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address. 
     
     
         72 . The method of claim  3 , wherein said CLID information further comprises a name associated with the originating party. 
     
     
         73 . The method of claim  1 , wherein said CLID information comprises at least one of a telephone number, an IP address and a name associated with an origin of the incoming call; and wherein said identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address. 
     
     
         74 . The method of claim  1 , further comprising accessing a database to determine said CLID information of the incoming call based on information regarding an origin of the incoming call. 
     
     
         75 . The method of claim  6 , wherein said information regarding an origin of the incoming call comprises a network identifier associated with the origin of the incoming call; and wherein said CLID information of the incoming call comprises at least a name associated with the origin of the incoming call. 
     
     
         76 . The method of claim  1 , wherein said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call comprises causing the at least one network element to forward an announcement trigger to a set-top box associated with the destination party via the television link, the announcement trigger comprising at least CLID information of the incoming call for conveyance over a display connected to the set-top box. 
     
     
         77 . The method of claim  1 , wherein said attempting to establish a telephony link with the VoIP device located at the premise of the destination party and said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call are initiated simultaneously. 
     
     
         78 . The method of claim  1 , wherein said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call is initiated before said attempting to establish a telephony link with the VoIP device located at the premise of the destination party. 
     
     
         79 . A network element in a communication network managed by a service provider, comprising:
 a processor for executing instructions; and   a memory for storing instructions, which when executed by the processor configure the network element to:
 receive, via a portion of a data network within the communication network adapted for handling Voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the SIP signaling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party; and 
 responsive to said receiving:
 attempt to establish a telephony link with a VoIP device associated with the destination party over the communication network; and 
 cause delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding an origin of the incoming call. 
 
   
     
     
         80 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein receiving the SIP signalling information comprises receiving a SIP invite message. 
     
     
         81 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein said CLID information comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address; and wherein said information regarding an identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address. 
     
     
         82 . he network element of claim  3 , wherein said CLID information further comprises a name associated with the originating party. 
     
     
         83 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein said CLID information comprises at least one of a telephone number, an IP address and a name associated with an origin of the incoming call; and wherein said identity of the destination party comprises one of a telephone number and an IP address. 
     
     
         84 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further configure the network element to access a database to determine said CLID information of the incoming call based on information regarding an origin of the incoming call. 
     
     
         85 . The network element of claim  6 , wherein said information regarding an origin of the incoming call comprises a network identifier associated with the origin of the incoming call; and wherein said CLID information of the incoming call comprises at least a name associated with the origin of the incoming call. 
     
     
         86 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call comprises causing the at least one network element to forward an announcement trigger to a set-top box associated with the destination party via the television link, the announcement trigger comprising at least CLID information of the incoming call for conveyance over a display connected to the set-top box. 
     
     
         87 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein said attempting to establish a telephony link with the VoIP device located at the premise of the destination party and said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call are initiated simultaneously. 
     
     
         88 . The network element of claim  1 , wherein said causing delivery of the indication of the origin of the incoming call is initiated before said attempting to establish a telephony link with the VoIP device located at the premise of the destination party.