Digital residential entertainment system

• US 20040255326A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III, Zimler, Randy Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/892,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255326A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/27 specially adapted for broadcast systems covered by groups H04H20/53 - H04H20/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 7/20 : Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A digital residential entertainment system is disclosed recording video data of an event. One component of this digital residential entertainment system is a set-top box decoding digital signals. The set-top box includes a processor communicating with memory and an input to a data switch interface. The data switch interface receives digital information from a data switch.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a set-top box decoding digital signals, the set-top box comprising

a processor communicating with memory, and

a data switch interface for receiving digital information from a data switch.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data switch interface comprises an Ethernet data switch interface, the Ethernet data switch interface providing an interface to an Ethernet data switch.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decryption logic coupled to the data switch interface, the decryption logic decrypting digital information signals received from the data switch.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decoder logic converting digital information signals.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals from a remote control.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a data switch interface coupled with a switch port of a data switch via a high bandwidth communications link for selecting and receiving digital information from at least one of a plurality of multimedia sources;

a processor for controlling selection of information via the data switch interface; and

processing logic for processing the received digital information for output.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data switch interface comprises an Ethernet data switch interface, the Ethernet data switch interface providing an interface to an Ethernet data switch.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processing logic comprises decryption logic coupled to the data switch interface, the decryption logic decrypting digital information signals received from the data switch.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processing logic comprises decoder logic converting digital information signals.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the received radio signals are used to control selection of the digital information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals from a remote control.

14. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data switch interface is coupled to the switch port via a dedicated communications link.

15. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data switch interface is coupled to the switch port via a shared communications link.