WIRELESS ACCESS POINT WITH DIGITAL TELEVISION CAPABILITIES

• US 20140040936A1
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ramesh Pendakur
• Inventors: Pendakur, Ramesh
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/43637 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 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/61 Network physical structure; Signal processing H04B takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6106 specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

In some embodiments a wireless access point receives digital television content. The digital television content is transmitted in a wireless manner over a wireless network of the wireless access point. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A wireless access point comprising:

one or more digital television receivers to receive digital television content; and

a transmitter to transmit the digital television content in a wireless manner over a wireless network of the wireless access point;

wherein the wireless access point is integrated into a device that redistributes the digital television content and is a digital television hotspot without digital television hardware.

2. The wireless access point of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point is a Wi-Fi access point or an ultra-wideband access point.

3. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising an encapsulation device to encapsulate digital television streams into a transport protocol.

4. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising a management device to manage digital television discovery, guide, channel selection and session management.

5. The wireless access point of claim 4, wherein the management device is a web server.

6. The wireless access point of claim 3, further comprising a management device to manage digital television discovery, guide, channel selection and session management.

7. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising simultaneously transmitting a plurality of digital television streams to one or more platforms via the wireless network.

8. The wireless access point of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is to simultaneously transmit a common digital television stream to two or more platforms via the wireless network.

9. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising a content protection module to authenticate one or more devices allowed to receive content over the wireless network and to securely transmit the content to the authenticated one or more devices.

10. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising a storage device to store received digital television content.

18. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating one or more devices allowed to receive content over the wireless network; and

securely transmitting the content to the authenticated one or more devices.

19. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising storing the received digital television content for later transmission over the wireless network.

11. A method comprising:

receiving at a wireless access point digital television content; and

transmitting the digital television content in a wireless manner over a wireless network of the wireless access point;

wherein the wireless access point is integrated into a device that redistributes the digital television content and is a digital television hotspot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless access point is a Wi-Fi access point.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising encapsulating digital television streams into a transport protocol.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising managing digital television discovery, guide, channel selection and session management.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising managing digital television discovery, guide, channel selection and session management.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising simultaneously transmitting a plurality of digital television streams to one or more platforms via the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising simultaneously transmitting a common digital television stream to two or more platforms via the wireless network.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the encapsulating encapsulates digital television MPEG-2 streams into Real-time Transport Protocol sessions.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising exposing the Real-time Transport Protocol sessions through a dynamically discoverable protocol.

22. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions thereon which when executed cause a computer to;

encapsulate digital television content received at a wireless access point into a transport protocol for transmission in a wireless manner over a wireless network of the wireless access point;

wherein the wireless access point is integrated into a device that redistributes the digital television content and is a digital television hotspot.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to manage digital television discovery, guide, channel selection and session management.

24. The article of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to simultaneously transmit a common digital television stream to two or more platforms via the wireless network.

25. The article of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to:

authenticate one or more devices allowed to receive content over the wireless network; and

securely transmit the content to the authenticated one or more devices.

26. The article of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to store the received digital television content for later transmission over the wireless network.

27. The article of claim 22, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to encapsulate digital television MPEG-2 streams into Real-time Transport Protocol sessions.

28. The article of claim 27, wherein the instructions when executed further cause a computer to expose the Real-time Transport Protocol sessions through a dynamically discoverable protocol.