System and method for effectively managing telephone functionality by utilizing a settop box

A method for managing telephonic communications, comprising the steps of:

• communicating with a television programming source and a telephone network by utilizing a settop box;
• displaying television programming from said television programming source on a television that is coupled to said settop box;
• receiving telephone calls from said telephone network with a telephone coupled to said settop box, said settop box including a TV mute manager for controlling a television mute mode that may be activated to mute audio programming on said television when receiving said telephone calls, said settop box further including a caller ID manager that controls a caller ID mode that may be activated to display caller identifications on said television when receiving said telephone calls, said settop box also including a phone mute manager that controls a telephone mute mode that may be activated to mute telephone ringing when receiving said telephone calls.

A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for managing telephonic communications by performing the steps of:

• communicating with a television programming source and a telephone network by utilizing a settop box;
• displaying television programming from said television programming source on a television that is coupled to said settop box;
• receiving telephone calls from said telephone network with a telephone coupled to said settop box, said settop box including a TV mute manager for controlling a television mute mode that may be activated to mute audio programming on said television when receiving said telephone calls, said settop box further including a caller ID manager that controls a caller ID mode that may be activated to display caller identifications on said television when receiving said telephone calls, said settop box also including a phone mute manager that controls a telephone mute mode that may be activated to mute telephone ringing when receiving said telephone calls.

A system for managing telephonic communications, comprising:

• means for communicating with a television programming source and a telephone network;
• means for displaying television programming from said television programming source;
• means for receiving telephone calls from said telephone network, said means for communicating including TV mute means for controlling a television mute mode that may be activated to mute audio programming from said means for displaying when receiving said telephone calls, said means for communicating further including caller ID means for controlling a caller ID mode that may be activated to display caller identifications on said means for displaying when receiving said telephone calls, said means for communicating also including phone mute means for controlling a telephone mute mode that may be activated to mute telephone ringing when receiving said telephone calls.

A system for managing telephonic communications, comprising:

• a settop box configured to communicate with a television programming source and a telephone network;
• a television coupled to said settop box for displaying television programming from said television programming source;
• a telephone coupled to said settop box for receiving telephone calls from said telephone network, said settop box selectively providing a TV mute manager that controls a television mute mode, a caller ID manager that controls a caller ID mode, and a phone mute manager that controls a telephone mute mode.