Networked television and method thereof

• US 20060294553A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius, Wollmershauser, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,365,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6106 specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television and a method thereof are provided. The television includes a display, a first network interface to a packet-based network, and a decoder operable to process a multimedia data stream received via the first network interface, wherein the television is operable to display video content of the multimedia data stream on the display promptly upon receipt of a user request to power up the television. The method includes receiving a multimedia data stream at a network interface of a television, wherein the network interface is coupled to a packet-based network, processing the multimedia data stream at a decoder of the television to generate video content and providing the video content to a display of the television, wherein the television displays video content of the multimedia data stream promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

Claims

1. A television comprising:

a display;

a first network interface to a packet-based network; and

a decoder operable to process a multimedia data stream received via the first network interface;

wherein the television is operable to display video content of the multimedia data stream on the display promptly upon receipt of a user request to power up the television.

2. The television of claim 1, further comprising a modular card interface coupled to the first network interface, wherein the integrated decoder includes a decoder modular card coupled to the modular card interface.

3. The television of claim 2, further comprising a wireless network interface card coupled to the modular card interface.

4. The television of claim 1, further comprising a second network interface, wherein the second network interface is a wireless network interface supported by a wireless network interface modular card coupled to the decoder via a modular card interface.

5. The television of claim 1, wherein the multimedia data stream includes protected multimedia data and wherein the decoder processes the protected multimedia data to generate unprotected multimedia data and provides the unprotected multimedia data to a networked device via the first network interface.

6. The television of claim 5, wherein the unprotected multimedia data is provided to a networked device via a second network interface of the television.

7. The television of claim 6, wherein the second network interface comprises a wireless network interface that includes a wireless network interface modular card coupled to the integrated decoder via a modular card interface.

8. The television of claim 1, wherein the video content is displayed within ten seconds of receiving the user request.

9. The television of claim 1, wherein the video content is displayed within five seconds of receiving the user request.

10. The television of claim 1, wherein the video content is displayed within two seconds of receiving the user request.

11. The television of claim 1, wherein:

the first network interface is disposed at an exterior surface of a housing of the television, at least a portion of the first network interface exterior to the housing; and

the decoder is disposed interior to the housing.

12. The television of claim 1, wherein the packet-based network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network.

13. The television of claim 1, further comprising a remote control interface to receive one or more remote control commands communicated wirelessly, wherein an operation of the television is responsive to the one or more remote control commands.

14. A television comprising:

a display;

a first network interface to a packet-based network;

a processor to process data transmitted via the first network interface;

a first modular card interface coupled to the processor; and

a multimedia decoder card coupled to the first modular card interface, the multimedia decoder card to process multimedia data received via the first network interface;

wherein the television is operable to display video content represented by at least a portion of the multimedia data promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

15. The television of claim 14, further comprising:

a second modular card interface coupled to the processor; and

a second network interface that comprises a wireless network interface card coupled to the second modular card interface.

16. The television of claim 14, wherein the multimedia data comprises protected multimedia data and wherein the multimedia decoder card processes the protected multimedia data to generate unprotected multimedia data.

17. The television of claim 14, further comprising a remote control interface to receive one or more remote control commands, wherein an operation of the television is responsive to the one or more remote control commands, wherein the user request to power up the television is received as a remote control command via the remote control interface.

18. A method comprising:

receiving a multimedia data stream at a network interface of a television, wherein the network interface is coupled to a packet-based network;

processing the multimedia data stream at a decoder of the television to generate video content; and

providing the video content to a display of the television;

wherein the television displays video content of the multimedia data stream promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

processing the multimedia data stream at the decoder of the television to generate at least a first audio content; and

providing the audio content for output by at least one speaker of the television.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a first multimedia data stream at a first network interface of a television, wherein the first network interface is coupled to a packet-based network and the television displays video content of a multimedia data stream promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television;

processing the first multimedia data stream at a decoder of the television to generate a second multimedia stream; and

providing the second multimedia data stream for reception by a separately located networked device via a second network interface of the television.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein processing the first multimedia data stream comprises decrypting the first multimedia data stream.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first network interface and the second network interface are the same network interface.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first network interface comprises a wired network interface and the second network interface comprises a wireless network interface.

24. A method comprising:

providing a first data stream comprising multimedia data to a television via a packet-based network, the television comprising a network interface to the packet-based network to receive the multimedia data and a decoder to process the multimedia data, wherein the television is operable to display video content of the multimedia data promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first data stream is a protected data stream and wherein the decoder includes a predetermined decoding key for use in processing the protected data stream.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first data stream is provided via a digital subscriber line.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first data stream is provided as a digital transmission.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing to the television an indicator of a maximum number of televisions authorized to receive multimedia content of the first data stream.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein, in response to the indicator, the television is configured to provide the multimedia content to a number of other televisions no greater than the maximum number of televisions.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising billing for a service that includes providing the first data stream.