# US 10,321,185 B2 · Communication signaling engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,185 B2 - Document ID: US10321185B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/948,601 - Filed: 2015-11-23 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-15 - Assignees: Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC - Inventors: Franklyn Athias - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321185B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/4394: {involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58)} - H04N 7/173: with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal - H04N 21/252: {Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data} - H04N 21/25875: {involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/41407: {embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop (constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57)} - H04N 21/4147: PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) - H04N 21/4227: {Providing} Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work - H04N 21/440236: {by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text} - H04N 21/47214: {for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market (stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224)} - H04N 21/4786: e-mailing {(message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00)} - H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} - H04N 21/4882: {for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895)} - H04N 21/64322: {IP} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A verbal request for an action to be performed in connection with a user's set-top box may be received by a Program Content Manager (PCM) from a voice-enabled input/output device such as a VoIP-enabled device or a mobile communication device. Alternatively, the user may request an action via email, text message, and the like. The PCM receiving the action request may execute, or schedule the request for later execution, depending on whether the request is for a real-time or future action. The user may also request to send an alert or a program recording request to others. Recipients may be able to request further alerts or confirm a program recording invitation if certain criteria are met. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving, from a first user, a message identifying content; determining, based on the message, a second user different from the first user; determining a delivery method based on contact information associated with the second user; outputting, by a computing device, using the delivery method, and based on a level of service associated with the second user, a first prompt to the second user, wherein the first prompt asks the second user whether the second user would like to record the content; receiving, by the computing device and from a control device associated with the second user, a first reply to the first prompt, wherein the first reply comprises a first voice command and indicates a request to record the content; and scheduling, based on the first reply, a recording of the content. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via the control device, a second voice command regarding a transmission of second content; and transmitting, to the first user, a second message configured to alert the first user about the transmission of the second content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: prior to the transmitting the second message, determining a medium for the second message and whether a response option is to be included within the second message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery method comprises one or more of: an automated phone call, a voice message, an email, a text message, or an onscreen prompt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the computing device, the first prompt for output to another computing device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the computing device, a second voice command comprising a passcode; and authenticating, based on the passcode, the first user, wherein the outputting the first prompt is based on the authenticating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first reply comprises receiving the first voice command via a voice-over Internet Protocol call. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, from a first user, and via a control device, a first voice command comprising an indication of content; determining, based on the first voice command: an action associated with the content; and a second user different from the first user; determining a delivery method based on contact information associated with the second user; determining, based on a level of service associated with the second user, a notification specific to the action; and causing transmitting, to the second user and using the delivery method, of the notification, wherein the notification is configured to allow the second user to reply, to the notification and via a second voice command, to cause the action. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the action associated with the content comprises at least one of: viewing the content, or recording the content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the notification is transmitted via one or more of: an automated phone call, a voice message, an email, a text message, or an onscreen prompt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein causing transmission of the notification comprises causing another computing device to transmit the notification. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: based on determining that the action is no longer possible or is unavailable, transmitting, to the first user, a second notification indicating that the action is no longer possible or is unavailable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, from the first user, a third voice command comprising a passcode; and authenticating, based on the passcode, the first user, wherein causing transmission of the notification is based on the authenticating the first user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, by the computing device and from the second user, the second voice command; and based on receiving the second voice command, causing the action. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: after receiving a message identifying content and from a first user, outputting, by a computing device and based on a level of service associated with a second user different from the first user, a first prompt to the second user, wherein the first prompt asks the second user whether the second user would like to record the content, and wherein the first prompt is output using a delivery method based on contact information associated with the second user; receiving, by the computing device and from the second user, a first reply to the first prompt, wherein the first reply comprises a first voice command; and scheduling, based on determining that the first reply comprises an instruction to record the content, a recording of the content. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first reply comprises an identification of additional content, the method further comprising: recording, by the computing device, the additional content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining, based on the first reply, an action to perform with respect to the content; and causing the action. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first prompt comprises a response option. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting the first prompt to the second user is based on determining that the second user is permitted to record the content. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein delivery method comprises one or more of: an automated phone call, a voice message, an email, a text message, or an onscreen prompt.