METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING THE HOST-POD INTERFACE OF A DIGITAL TELEVISION OR OTHER DIGITAL AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER FOR NEW SERVICES

• US 20070146542A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies Incorporated (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Strasser, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/418 External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4623 Processing of entitlement messages, e.g. ECM [Entitlement Control Message] or EMM [Entitlement Management Message] arrangements for conditional access to broadcast information or to broadcast-related services H04H60/14

Abstract

To receive new services including audio or video content for presentation by a cable-compatible digital television or other digital audio/video receiver, a module may be connected to the HOST-POD interface of the digital television. The module has a receiver for receiving audio or video content in a first compression format, a transcoder for converting said audio or video content from the first compression format into a second, different compression format, and a controller for transmitting the audio or visual content in the second compression format to the digital television over a HOST-POD interface. By using such a module, front-end components of the digital television may be bypassed while back-end components may be utilized to decompress and present the content. The module may be a PC card or smart card for example.

Claims

1. A module comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal carrying audio or video content in a first compression format;

a transcoder for converting said audio or video content from said first compression format to a second compression format different from said first format; and

a controller for transmitting said audio or video content in said second compression format to a digital television via a HOST-POD interface.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein said audio or video content carried by said signal is encrypted and further comprising a conditional access processor for decrypting said encrypted audio or video content.

3. The module of claim 1 further comprising an encryptor for encrypting said audio or video content in said second compression format.

4. The module of claim 1 wherein said receiving is independent of any signal received by said digital television.

5. The module of claim 1 comprising a PC card or smart card.

6. The module of claim 1 wherein said first compression format has a higher compression ratio that said second compression format.

7. A digital audio/video receiver comprising:

a tuner for receiving a digital cable television network or digital terrestrial broadcast signal;

a HOST-POD interface, for connecting a module to said digital audio/video receiver; and

a module, connected to said HOST-POD interface, said module comprising;

a receiver for receiving a signal carrying audio or video content in a first compression format from a source independent of said cable television network or terrestrial broadcast signal;

a transcoder for converting said audio or video content from said first compression format to a second compression format different from said first format; and

a controller for transmitting said audio or video content in said second compression format over said HOST-POD interface.

8. The digital audio/video receiver of claim 7 wherein said tuner is a first tuner for tuning a first channel and further comprising a second tuner for tuning a second channel from said cable television network or terrestrial broadcast signal.

9. The digital audio/video receiver of claim 7 wherein said digital audio/video receiver is a digital television.

10. A method comprising:

at a module which is connected to a digital television at a HOST-POD interface;

receiving audio or video content in a first compression format;

converting said audio or video content from said first compression format to a second compression format different from said first format; and

transmitting said audio or video content in said second compression format to said digital television via said HOST-POD interface.

11. A module comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal carrying audio content in a first audio compression format and video content in a first video compression format;

a demultiplexer for separating said audio content from said video content;

an audio transcoder for converting said audio content from said first audio compression format to a second audio compression format;

a video transcoder for converting said video content from said first video compression format to a second video compression format;

a multiplexer for multiplexing said audio content in said second audio compression format and said video content in said second video compression format, said multiplexing resulting in a multiplexed stream; and

a controller for transmitting said multiplexed stream to a digital audio/video receiver via a HOST-POD interface.

12. The module of claim 11 wherein said demultiplexer is additionally for depacketizing said audio content in said first audio compression format and said video content in said first video compression format and wherein said multiplexer is additionally for packetizing said audio content in said second audio compression format and said video content in said first video compression format.

13. The module of claim 11 wherein said audio content in said first compression format and said video content in said first video compression format are encrypted, and further comprising a conditional access processor for decrypting said encrypted audio and video content.

14. The module of claim 11 further comprising an encryptor for encrypting said multiplexed stream.

15. The module of claim 11 wherein said receiving is independent of any signal received by said digital audio/video receiver.

16. The module of claim 11 wherein said digital audio/video receiver is a digital television.

17. The module of claim 11 comprising a PC card or smart card.

18. The module of claim 11 wherein said signal is an RF signal.

19. The module of claim 11 wherein said audio content and said video content represent a first tuned program, wherein said received signal further carries additional audio content in said first audio compression format and additional video content in said first video compression format, said additional audio content and additional video content representing a second tuned program, wherein demultiplexer is a first demultiplexer, said audio transcoder is a first audio transcoder, said video transcoder is a first video transcoder, said multiplexer is a first multiplexer, and said multiplexed stream is a first multiplexed stream, and further comprising:

a second demultiplexer for separating said additional audio content from said additional video content;

a second audio transcoder for converting said additional audio content from said first audio compression format to said second audio compression format;

a second video transcoder for converting said additional video content from said first video compression format to said second video compression format; and

a second multiplexer for multiplexing said additional audio content in said second audio compression format and said additional video content in said second video compression format, said multiplexing resulting in a second multiplexed stream,

and wherein said controller is also for transmitting said second multiplexed stream to said digital television via said HOST-POD interface.

20. The module of claim 19 wherein said controller multiplexes said first multiplexed stream and said second multiplexed stream prior to said transmitting of said first multiplexed stream and said second multiplexed stream.

21. The module of claim 19 wherein said second demultiplexer is additionally for depacketizing said additional audio content in said first audio compression format and said additional video content in said first video compression format and wherein said multiplexer is additionally for packetizing said additional audio content in said second audio compression format and said additional video content in said first video compression format.