Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing communications services

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for providing communications services to Internet Protocol-enabled devices associated with a subscriber are provided. The method includes creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber. The communications service includes one or more of a(n): electronic messaging, local video-on-demand, channel-based content, and Internet-based content. The method also includes delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.

1 . A method for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, comprising:
 creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of:
 electronic messaging, 
 local video-on-demand, 
 channel-based content, and 
 Internet-based content; and 
   delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address; wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:
 setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;   removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and   providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 storing video content received from the subscriber; and   receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;   transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising storing destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and   storing the selection in the account; wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.   
   
   
       8 . A system for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, comprising:
 a computer processing device; and   a communications service features application executing on the computer processing device, the communications service features application performing a method, comprising:   creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of:
 electronic messaging, 
 local video-on-demand, 
 channel-based content, and 
 Internet-based content; and 
   delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address; wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:
 setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;   removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and   providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 storing video content received from the subscriber; and   receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;   transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising storing destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and   storing the selection in the account; wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.   
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for providing communications services to an Internet Protocol-enabled device associated with a subscriber, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:
 creating an account identifying the subscriber, an Internet Protocol address associated with the Internet Protocol-enabled device of the subscriber, and a communications service provisioned for the subscriber, the communications service including at least one of:
 electronic messaging, 
 local video-on-demand, 
 channel-based content, and 
 Internet-based content; and 
   delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device over a network based upon the communications service provisioned for the subscriber.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is electronic messaging, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving an electronic message including text and a destination address; wherein the delivering content includes sending the electronic message to the Internet Protocol-enabled devices based upon the destination address.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the electronic message includes an image attachment, the method further comprising:
 setting a parameter in forwarding instructions of the electronic message to reflect the image attachment;   removing the image attachment from the electronic message and storing the image attachment in a repository; and   providing a uniform resource locator for the repository in the forwarding instructions.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is local video on demand, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 storing video content received from the subscriber; and   receiving destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for other subscribers approved by the subscriber to receive the video content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the video content to destination addresses for Internet Protocol-enabled television devices for the other subscribers upon a request to access the content.   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is channel-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 establishing a dedicated communications channel for the subscriber;   transmitting the channel-based content to designated subscribers, the designated subscribers authorized by the subscriber to access the channel-based content; wherein the delivering content includes transmitting the channel-based content over the communications channel; wherein destination addresses and authentication information for each of the designated subscribers in the account are stored.   
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein if the provisioned communications service is Internet-based content, then the delivering content to the Internet Protocol-enabled device comprises:
 receiving a selection of Internet-based content sources from the subscriber; and   storing the selection in the account; wherein the delivering content includes presenting Internet-based content from the selection to the Internet Protocol-enabled television upon a request by the subscriber.