# US 9,882,848 B2 · System and method of delivering notifications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,848 B2 - Document ID: US9882848B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/713,316 - Filed: 2015-05-15 - Published: 2015-09-03 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-13 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Mary McCarthy; Tony Haeuser; Chris Lee; Ross Cox; Scott Pettit - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882848B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/254: Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server {(arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53)} - H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways - H04L 51/06: Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements - H04L 67/04: specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability - H04M 3/533: Voice mail systems - 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 21/6125: {involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82)} - H04N 21/6175: {involving transmission via Internet (broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82)} - H04N 21/8126: {involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts} - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A method includes associating an e-mail address with a media device at a server of a television network. The media device is associated with the television network and the e-mail address is associated with a network device outside of the television network. The method includes receiving, at the server, an e-mail message directed to the e-mail address. The method also includes sending an e-mail notification from the server to the media device responsive to receipt of the e-mail message. The e-mail notification indicates whether the e-mail message includes an attachment. The e-mail notification permits the media device to provide notification of the e-mail message and an indication of whether the e-mail message includes an attachment to an output device coupled to the media device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: associating an e-mail address with a media device at a server of a television network, wherein the media device is associated with the television network, and wherein the e-mail address is associated with a network device outside of the television network; receiving, at the server, status information from the media device and an identifier of a particular device to receive a status message, wherein the status information corresponds to data pertaining to a digital video recorder of the media device; generating the status message at the server; sending the status message from the server to the particular device; receiving, at the server, an e-mail message directed to the e-mail address; and sending an e-mail notification from the server to the media device responsive to receipt of the e-mail message, wherein the e-mail notification indicates whether the e-mail message includes an attachment, and wherein the e-mail notification permits the media device to provide notification of the e-mail message and an indication of whether the e-mail message includes an attachment to an output device coupled to the media device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request for the e-mail message in response to sending the e-mail notification; and sending the e-mail message to the media device in response to the request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request to store the e-mail message in response to sending the e-mail notification; and storing the e-mail message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is an e-mail server. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: associating a telephone identifier with the media device; receiving, at the server, phone message; and sending a phone message notification to the media device responsive to a determination that the phone message is associated with the media device based on the telephone identifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the particular device comprises a mobile communication device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media device includes a set-top box device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the e-mail address is associated with a mobile communication device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the e-mail notification includes a visual notification. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the e-mail notification includes an audio notification. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the e-mail notification includes a name of a sender of the e-mail message, an e-mail address associated with the sender, a subject of the e-mail message, a thumbnail image of a particular attachment, an e-mail symbol, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to perform operations including: associating an e-mail address with a media device, wherein the media device is associated with a television network, and wherein the e-mail address is associated with a network device outside of the television network; receiving status information from the media device and an identifier of a particular device to receive a status message, wherein the status information corresponds to data pertaining to a digital video recorder of the media device; generating the status message; causing a transmitter to send the status message to the particular device; receiving a message; determining that the message comprises e-mail; and causing the transmitter to send an e-mail notification to the media device responsive to the message comprising e-mail, wherein the e-mail notification indicates whether the message includes an attachment, and wherein the e-mail notification permits the media device to provide notification of the message and an indication of whether the message includes an attachment to an output device coupled to the media device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the e-mail notification includes a thumbnail image of the attachment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further include: determining that the message is from the media device and indicates status information to be sent to a particular device; generating a status message; and causing the transmitter to send the status message to the particular device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further include: associating a telephone identifier with the media device; determining that the message is a phone message associated with the media device based on the telephone identifier; and sending a phone message notification to the media device responsive to the phone message. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the telephone identifier is an internet protocol address associated with a voice over internet protocol destination. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the telephone identifier includes a telephone number. ### Claim 18 A computer-readable hardware device comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform operations including: associating an e-mail address with a media device, wherein the media device is associated with a television network, and wherein the e-mail address is associated with a network device outside of the television network; receiving status information from the media device and an identifier of a particular device to receive a status message, wherein the status information corresponds to data pertaining to a digital video recorder of the media device; generating the status message; causing a transmitter to send the status message to the particular device; receiving a message; determining that the message comprises e-mail; and causing the transmitter to send an e-mail notification to the media device responsive to the message comprising e-mail, wherein the e-mail notification indicates whether the message includes an attachment, and wherein the e-mail notification permits the media device to provide notification of the message and an indication of whether the message includes an attachment to an output device coupled to the media device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer-readable hardware device of claim 18, wherein the operations further include: receiving a request for the message in response to sending the e-mail notification; and causing the transmitter to send the message to the media device in response to the request. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The computer-readable hardware device of claim 18, wherein the e-mail notification includes a name of a sender of the message, an e-mail address associated with the sender, a subject of the message, a thumbnail image of a particular attachment, an e-mail symbol, or any combination thereof.