RECEIVER AND DISTRIBUTION UNIT FOR VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100017827A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Shalam, David M., Tranchina, James R.
• Application Number:
  US12/570,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0017 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• 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 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• 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 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A receiver and distribution unit in a vehicle that includes a wireless receiver and signal processing/conversion facilities. The receiver and distribution unit may include a data bus and a selection multiplexer connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media source. The wireless receiver receives a signal comprising media content from a wireless network, such as the FLO™ network. The processing/conversion facilities decode the signal for output to a display and speaker in the vehicle. The selection multiplexer multiplexes media content from the wireless receiver or media content from the additional media source to the data bus. A function control, controllable by a wired controller and a wireless controller, controls the functions of the receiver and distribution unit.

Claims

1. A receiver and distribution unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a wireless receiver receiving a signal comprising media content from a wireless network; and

signal processing/conversion facilities for decoding the signal into audio signals for output to a speaker and video signals for output to a display.

2. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a data bus; and

a selection multiplexer connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media source to multiplex one of media content corresponding to the wireless receiver or the additional media source to the data bus.

3. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising a function control for controlling functions of the receiver and distribution unit.

4. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 3, wherein the function control is controllable by a wired controller and a wireless remote controller.

5. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver receives an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal.

6. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 5, wherein media content corresponding to a single sub-carrier of the OFDM signal is demodulated.

7. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 5, wherein the signal processing/conversion facilities comprise one of a digital signal processor (DSP) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the OFDM signal to separate data streams carried on multiple sub-carriers of the OFDM signal.

8. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver receives a forward link only (FLO) signal.

9. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the signal processing/conversion facilities perform one of binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) demodulation, quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) demodulation, or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) demodulation.

10. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the receiver and distribution unit is mounted on a surface within the vehicle and the display is mounted in one of a headrest of a seat in the vehicle, an overhead in the vehicle, a dashboard in the vehicle, or a center console in the vehicle.

11. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising a storage device capable of storing audio and video signals.

12. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising a buffer for buffering a streaming data.

13. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for broadcasting the audio signals to a wireless sound system.

14. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 13, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the audio signals using one of infrared (IR), radio frequency (RF), BLUETOOTH, or 802.11 standards.

15. A wireless media system for a vehicle, comprising:

a wireless receiver receiving a signal comprising media content from a wireless network;

a speaker;

a display; and

signal processing/conversion facilities for decoding the signal into audio and video signals, wherein the audio signals are output to the speaker and the video signals are output to the display.

16. The wireless media system of claim 15, further comprising:

a data bus; and

a selection multiplexer connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media source to multiplex one of media content corresponding to the wireless receiver or the additional media source to the data bus.

17. The wireless media system of claim 15, wherein the wireless media system is mounted in one of a headrest of a seat in the vehicle, an overhead in the vehicle, a dashboard in the vehicle, or a center console in the vehicle.

18. A receiver and distribution unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a receiver unit, comprising;

a wireless receiver receiving a signal comprising media content from a wireless network, and

signal processing/conversion facilities for decoding the signal into audio signals and video signals; and

a docking station distributing the audio signals to a speaker and the video signals to a display, wherein the docking station is mounted in the vehicle and the receiver unit is removably connected to the docking station.

19. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 18, wherein the receiver unit further comprises:

a data bus; and

a selection multiplexer connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media source to multiplex one of media content corresponding to the wireless receiver or the additional media source to the data bus.

20. The receiver and distribution unit of claim 18, wherein the docking station is mounted on a surface within the vehicle and the display is mounted in one of a headrest of a seat in the vehicle, an overhead in the vehicle, a dashboard in the vehicle, or a center console in the vehicle.