Method and apparatus for providing consumer-chosen telephone services on a digital cable TV set-top box

摘要

A method and system of downloading a set of programs, navigational, branding and other data to a consumer's set-top box coupled to a cable TV headend controller. The set-top box is also coupled to the PSTN via the headend controller. A user navigates a series of menus displayed on a display device coupled to the set-top box and makes selections of a desired telephone service and enters any pertinent data. When the user makes a telephone call, the set-top box translates any dialed digits to a POTS number and completes the call. Other services, such as ANI-based services, can also be provided in the set-top box in a similar way. Further, these service selections made by the user are written to a portable storage medium that is removably coupled to the set-top box, thereby enabling the user to transport the data to another set-top box.