System for providing DBS and DSL video services to multiple television sets

• US 20040006769A1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: White, Russell William, Hartman, David Bruce, Ansari, Ahmad, Medford, Brad Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Each of a plurality of remote control devices receives user-initiated video selections of any of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) channels, digital subscriber line (DSL) video content, and combinations of DBS channels and DSL video content. Based on the selections, each of a plurality of video processing modules is responsive to a corresponding one of the remote control devices to request any of a DBS channel, DSL video content, and a combination of a DBS channel and DSL video content, and to generate a television signal based thereon. A DBS distribution module simultaneously receives and distributes all DBS channels requested by the video processing modules. A DSL modem receives any DSL video content requested by the video processing modules. A networking module distributes the DSL video content to those of the video processing modules requesting same.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of remote control devices, each of the remote control devices to receive user-initiated video selections of any of a plurality of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) channels, a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) content, and a plurality of combinations of DBS channels and DSL content;

a plurality of video processing modules, each of the video processing modules responsive to a corresponding one of the remote control devices to request any of a DBS channel, DSL content, and a combination of a DBS channel and DSL content based on the user-initiated video selection, and to generate a television signal based thereon;

a DBS distribution module to simultaneously receive all DBS channels requested by the video processing modules and to distribute the DBS channels to those of the video processing modules requesting same;

a DSL modem to receive, via a DSL network, DSL content requested by the video processing modules; and

a networking module to distribute the DSL content received by the DSL modem to those of the video processing modules requesting same.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein for at least one combination of a DBS channel and DSL content, at least one of the video processing modules is to blend video from the DBS channel with video from the DSL content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DSL content comprises DSL video.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the networking module is to network at least one in-home personal computer to the DSL modem.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data storage device to store received DBS video and DSL content for subsequent playback.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one card-receiving slot to receive an additional at least one video processing module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DBS distribution module is to interface with a DBS dish system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the DSL modem is to interface with a telephone line by which a DSL network is accessible.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an input device to receive a user-initiated video selection of any of a plurality of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) channels, a plurality of digital subscriber line (DSL) content, and a plurality of combinations of DBS channels and DSL content;

a DBS receiver;

a DSL modem; and

a video processing module responsive to the input device to request any of a DBS channel, DSL content, and a combination of a DBS channel and DSL content from the DBS receiver and the DSL modem based on the user-initiated video selection, and to generate a television signal based thereon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein for at least one combination of a DBS channel and DSL content, at least one of the video processing modules is to blend video from the DBS channel with video from the DSL content.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the DSL content comprises DSL video.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a data storage device to store received DBS video and DSL content for subsequent playback.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the DBS distribution module is to interface with a DBS dish system.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the DSL modem is to interface with a telephone line by which a DSL network is accessible.