Method and system for providing broadband access, HDTV, and broadband-enabled services
First Claim
1. A method for providing a premises with integrated communication service, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first digital communication signal, carrying media content, from a network that communicates via Internet protocol and that extends beyond the premises;
modulating an analog signal according to the media content in response to processing the received first digital communication signal;
outputting the modulated analog signal for reception by a television at the premises;
receiving a second digital communication signal from a local network that communicates via another communication protocol;
generating a third digital communication signal, conforming to the Internet protocol, in response to processing the received second digital communication signal; and
transmitting the generated third digital communication signal over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication gateway can provide a residence or a premises with access to multiple communication services, including reception of TV signals and bidirectional data communication. The gateway can reformat incoming TV signals to provide compatibility with an onsite TV. The incoming TV signals may be digital or may provide a higher level of pixel definition or screen resolution than the onsite TV is configured to handle. The gateway can convert the incoming TV signals into an analog form or can reduce the pixel definition for reception by the onsite TV. To support bidirectional data communications, the gateway can comprise a wireless interface to a LAN and an interface to broader network, such as a WAN. The gateway can process data signals flowing between the LAN and the WAN to provide format compatibility and can track media exposure. In one exemplary embodiment, the WAN can transmit television signals as packets.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for providing a premises with integrated communication service, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first digital communication signal, carrying media content, from a network that communicates via Internet protocol and that extends beyond the premises; modulating an analog signal according to the media content in response to processing the received first digital communication signal; outputting the modulated analog signal for reception by a television at the premises; receiving a second digital communication signal from a local network that communicates via another communication protocol; generating a third digital communication signal, conforming to the Internet protocol, in response to processing the received second digital communication signal; and transmitting the generated third digital communication signal over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for providing access to communication services, comprising:
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a housing; a receiver, disposed in the housing, operative to receive a first signal that carries video images with a first level of image resolution; a first circuit, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the receiver, operative to produce a second signal that carries the video images with a second level of image resolution, substantially below the first level of image resolution, in response to processing the received first signal; an output port, disposed at the housing and electrically coupled to the first circuit, operative to transmit the second signal for reception by a television that operates at the second level of image resolution; a first antenna, attached to the housing, for interfacing to a local area network; a second antenna, attached to the housing, for interfacing to a wide area network; and a second circuit, disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to the first antenna and to the second antenna, operative to reformat signals passing between the local area network and the wide area network via the first antenna and the second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communication gateway, for providing a television and a wireless local area network with communication connectivity, comprising:
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a receiver, operative to receive first television signals providing a first level of image definition and propagating in air; a transceiver, operative to provide bidirectional data communication with the wireless local area network; and a signal processing system operably connected to an output of the receiver and to the transceiver, the signal processing system operative to perform the steps of; converting the received first television signals into second television signals, providing a second level of image definition substantially below the first level of image definition, for reception by the television; formatting first data signals, that the transceiver receives from the wireless local area network, for transmission over a wide area network via Internet protocol; and formatting second data signals from the wide area network for transmission over the wireless local area network via the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A communication method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving packets from a wireless mesh network; processing the received packets to identify packets carrying video content and packets carrying data; separating the packets carrying video content from the packets carrying data; formatting the data for transmission over a wireless local area network in response to processing the packets carrying data; transmitting the formatted data over the wireless local area network for receipt by a computing device; generating an analog signal carrying the video content in response to processing the packets carrying video content; and transmitting the generated analog signal for reception by an analog television. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for providing a residence with television service via an onsite gateway, comprising the steps of:
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receiving first television signals, carrying video images at a first level of image resolution, at the gateway; providing, from the gateway, a first television system with the received first television signals, the first television system disposed at the residence and operating at the first level of image resolution; processing, at the gateway, the received first television signals to provide a second television system with second television signals carrying the video images at a second level of image resolution, the second television system disposed at the residence and operating at the second level of image resolution; and tracking, at the gateway, usage statistics for each of the first television system and the second television system. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification