# US 2009/0293113 A1 · Controlled delivery of event information to iptv users

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- Number: US 2009/0293113 A1
- Document ID: US20090293113A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/201,169
- Filed: 2008-08-29
- Published: 2009-11-26
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-21
- Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
- Inventors: George Foti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090293113A1

## CPC

- H04L 67/54: Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
- H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)}
- H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A method and a gateway are provided for controlling delivery of event information to users sharing a user device. The gateway is informed of activity states of each user sharing a same user device. Events related to services used by the users are detected by the gateway. Because some users of a same device may be active while others are inactive, the gateway verifies the activity state of each user for whom an event is detected. Active users are informed of events that are of interest for them.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling delivery of event information to users, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving at a gateway, from a user device, a device identity, an activity state and a corresponding user identity;
storing in the gateway a binding comprising the device identity, the activity state and the corresponding user identity;
detecting at the gateway an event related to the user identity; and
if the activity state indicates active, sending from the gateway towards the user device information about the event along with the corresponding user identity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
if the activity state indicates inactive, the gateway silently discards information about the event.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the event comprises receiving a signal at the gateway; and
the method further comprises, if the activity state indicates inactive, replying by the gateway to an originator of the signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the gateway stores two or more bindings for the user device, each of the two or more bindings comprising the device identity, a distinct activity state and a distinct user activity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein:
a first one of the two or more bindings comprises an active indication;
a second one of the two or more bindings comprises an inactive indication;
the event is related to one of the distinct user identities comprised in one of the first and second bindings; and
the gateway determines whether to send towards the user device information about the event based on the one of the distinct user identities related to the event.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
sending from the gateway towards the user device a request for receiving updates about the activity state for the user identity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein:
the received activity state, the event, the information about the event and the request for receiving updates are comprised in session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the gateway stores a first and a second binding for two distinct devices and for a same user, each of the first and second bindings comprising the user identity, each of the first and second bindings comprising distinct activity states.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein:
the step of sending from the gateway towards the user device information about the event if the activity state indicates active comprises sending the information to one of the two distinct devices if the activity state for that specific device indicates active.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the user device is an internet protocol television (IPTV) device.

### Claim 11

A gateway for controlling delivery of event information to users, comprising:
a memory for storing bindings of device identities with activity states and corresponding user identities;
an input-output device for receiving a device identity, an activity state and a user identity, and for sending event information; and
a processor for:
receiving from the input-output device the device identity, the activity state and the user identity,
storing in the memory a binding of the device identity, the activity state and the user identity,
detecting an event related to the user identity,
reading from the memory the activity state corresponding to the user identity, and
if the activity state indicates active, requesting the input-output device to send, addressed to the device identity, the user identity and information about the event.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The gateway of claim 11, wherein:
the input-output device is further for receiving a signal; and
the processor is further for detecting the event by analyzing the signal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The gateway of claim 11, wherein:
the processor is further for silently discarding the event if the activity state indicates inactive.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The gateway of claim 11, wherein:
the memory is further for storing bindings of two or more activity states and two or more corresponding user identities for a same user device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The gateway of claim 14, wherein:
a first one of the two or more activity states contains an active indication for a first one of the corresponding user identities;
a second one of the two or more activity states contains an inactive indication for a second one of the corresponding user identities;
the event is related to one of the first and second user identities; and
the processor is further for determining whether to request sending information about the event based on the user identity related to the event.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The gateway of claim 11, wherein:
if the processor finds that the read activity state indicates inactive, the processor reads further in the memory in search for the same user identity in a distinct binding.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The gateway of claim 16, wherein:
if the processor finds the user identity in the distinct binding and if the distinct binding contains an active indication, the processor requests the input-output device to send the information about the event towards a device identity stored in the distinct binding.