Wireless network providing distributed video / data services

• US 20040110466A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OnLive Incorporated, Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: OnLive Incorporated
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18517 Transmission equipment in earth stations

Abstract

A wireless network includes a satellite antenna assembly with a reflector dish and at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) positioned opposite the reflector dish. A wireless transceiver transmits video and data information to one or more users located in a surrounding area. An interface unit is coupled to provide communication signals to the wireless transceiver. The unit is also configured for connection to an interactive data network so that the one or more users are provided with connectivity to the interactive data network via the wireless transceiver. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A wireless network comprising:

an antenna assembly to receive satellite transmission signals, the antenna assembly including a wireless communication device operable to transmit data to one or more users in a local area;

a unit coupled to provide communication signals to the wireless communication device;

wherein the data for transmission to the one or more users in the local area includes the satellite transmission signals.

2. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a transceiver and the unit is coupled an interactive data network, thereby providing the one or more users with connectivity to the interactive data network.

3. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the satellite transmission signals occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

4. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the unit is coupled to receive cable television signals and wherein the data for transmission to the one or more users in the local area further includes the cable television signals.

5. The wireless network of claim 2 wherein the wireless communication transceiver receives control signals transmitted in a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

6. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the unit comprises a satellite receiver.

7. The wireless network of claim 2 wherein the interactive data network comprises the Internet.

8. A wireless network comprising:

a satellite antenna assembly that includes a wireless transceiver operable to send/receive video and data transmissions to one or more users in a local area;

a unit coupled to provide communication signals to the wireless transceiver;

wherein the video and data transmissions include satellite transmission signals.

9. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the wireless transceiver operates in compliance with IEEE 802.1x specification.

10. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the unit is configured for connection to an interactive data network, the one or more users being provided with connectivity to the interactive data network via the wireless transceiver.

11. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the satellite antenna assembly includes a reflector dish and at least one low-noise block converter (LNB).

12. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the satellite transmission signals occupy a first frequency band and the wireless transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

13. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the unit is configured to receive video signals from a cable television service provider, and wherein the video and data transmissions include the video signals.

14. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the communication signals have a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

15. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the unit comprises a satellite receiver.

16. The wireless network of claim 10 wherein the interactive data network comprises the Internet.

17. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the unit is configured for connection to an interactive data network, the one or more users being provided with connectivity to the interactive data network via the wireless transceiver Internet.

18. The wireless network of claim 8 further comprising:

a repeater disposed within the local area that extends the video and data transmissions to additional users in a neighboring area.

19. The wireless network of claim 18 wherein the repeater comprises a second a satellite antenna assembly that includes a second wireless transceiver, the second antenna assembly being disposed within the local area at a distance from the first satellite antenna assembly.

20. The wireless network of claim 12 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

21. A wireless network comprising:

a satellite antenna assembly that includes;

a reflector dish;

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) positioned opposite the reflector dish; and

a wireless transceiver operable to send/receive video and data transmissions to one or more users in a local area;

a satellite receiver coupled to receive satellite signals from the at least one LNB and output video program signals for viewing on a display device;

an interface unit coupled to provide communication signals to the wireless transceiver, the interface unit being configured for connection to an interactive data network, the one or more users being provided with connectivity to the interactive data network via the wireless transceiver,

wherein the video and data transmissions include the satellite signals.

22. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the wireless transceiver operates in compliance with IEEE 802.1x specification.

23. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the satellite signals occupy a first frequency band and the wireless transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

24. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the interface unit is further configured to receive video signals from a cable television service provider, and wherein the video and data transmissions include the video signals.

25. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the communication signals have a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

26. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the interface unit and the satellite receiver are integrated into a single unit.

27. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the interactive data network comprises the Internet.

28. The wireless network of claim 21 further comprising:

a repeater disposed within the local area that extends the video and data transmissions to additional users in a neighboring area.

29. The wireless network of claim 28 further comprising:

an additional repeater disposed within the neighboring area that extends the video and data transmissions to more additional users in a further neighboring area.

30. The wireless network of claim 28 wherein the repeater comprises a second a satellite antenna assembly that includes a second wireless transceiver, the second antenna assembly being disposed within the local area at a distance from the first satellite antenna assembly.

31. The wireless network of claim 23 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

32. A wireless network comprising:

a satellite antenna assembly that includes;

a reflector dish;

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) positioned opposite the reflector dish; and

a wireless transceiver operable to send/receive video and data transmissions to one or more users in a local area;

a unit coupled to provide communication signals to the wireless transceiver, the unit being configured for connection to an interactive data network, the one or more users being provided with connectivity to the interactive data network via the wireless transceiver; and

a media library apparatus store video programs, the media library apparatus being coupled to the wireless transceiver to provide the one or more users with on-demand access to the video programs.

33. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the wireless transceiver operates in compliance with IEEE 802.1x specification.

34. The wireless network of claim 33 wherein the one or more users receive the video and data transmissions using a device configured in compliance with IEEE 802.1x specification.

35. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the satellite signals occupy a first frequency band and the wireless transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

36. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the unit is further configured to receive video signals from a cable television service provider, and wherein the video and data transmissions include the video signals.

37. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the communication signals have a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

38. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the interactive data network comprises the Internet.

39. The wireless network of claim 32 further comprising:

a repeater disposed within the local area that extends the video and data transmissions to additional users in a neighboring area.

40. The wireless network of claim 39 wherein the repeater comprises a second a satellite antenna assembly that includes a second wireless transceiver, the second antenna assembly being disposed within the local area at a distance from the first satellite antenna assembly.

41. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

42. The wireless network of claim 32 wherein the media library apparatus comprises a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) array.

43. The wireless network of claim 42 wherein the media library apparatus further comprises a transceiver for wireless communication with the wireless transceiver of the satellite antenna assembly.