Signal distribution system

• US 5,574,964 A
• Filed: 05/30/1995
• Issued: 11/12/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamlin, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/453,871
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6-12, 348/13, 348/14, 455/3.1
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A signal distribution system having a converter with input terminals for receiving signals of varying configurations and an output terminal for transmitting converted signals. The input signals received by the converter are each converted into a converted signal frequency component of a common bus signal, which is then transmitted by the converter. The converter output terminal transmits the common bus signal on a communication bus. The communication bus is coupled to at least one interface pod for receiving the common bus signal and re-transmitting a desired converted signal.

Claims

1. A signal distribution system for transmitting multiple input signals on a common signal transfer medium to various receiving units, the system comprising:

a converter including

a first receiving channel having

first input terminals for receiving, from a first signal transfer medium, first input signals having a first format which is dedicated to a first type of receiving unit; and

a first translator for converting the first input signals to first converted signals in a common format;

a second receiving channel having

second input terminals for receiving, from a second signal transfer medium, second input signals having a second format which is different than the first format and is dedicated to a second type of receiving unit; and

a second translator for converting the second input signals to second converted signals in the common format;

a device coupled to the common signal transfer medium, for transmitting the first and second converted signals on a common signal transfer medium to the receiving units;

a common signal transfer medium, connected to the device, for carrying the common format converted signals; and

a system controller coupled to the common signal transfer medium and enabling a user to select one of the converted signals for delivery to one of the receiving units.

2. The signal distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a first interface pod, connected to the common signal transfer medium, for receiving a converted signal and transmitting the signal in the first format for use by a first receiving unit.

3. The signal distribution system of claim 2, further comprising:

a remote controller for transmitting a command signal requesting the first interface pod to transmit the first converted signal; and

a signal receiver, coupled to the first interface pod, for receiving the command signal from the remote controller and responsively relaying command signal information to the first interface pod.

4. The signal distribution system of claim 2, wherein the system controller is responsive to a received command signal to transmit on the common signal transfer medium a control signal which directs the first interface pod to transmit the first converted signal.

5. The signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein

the system controller includes a database which stores input signal conversion protocols, signal transfer medium destinations, identification codes for respective input signals, and interface pod addresses;

the control signal includes an interface pod address and a desired signal frequency; and

the first interface pod includes an address recognition unit for recognizing the first interface pod address and said identification codes.

6. The signal distribution system of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one remote controller for transmitting a command signal which requests the first interface pod at a first address to transmit the first converted signal; and

a signal receiver coupled to the system controller for receiving command signals from the remote controller and relaying the command signal information to the system controller.

7. The signal distribution system of claim 4, including a first receiving unit coupled to said first interface pod, and wherein said first interface pod transmits the first converted signal in a compatible format to said first receiving unit.

8. The signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the system controller includes an input device for manually entering the command signal.

9. The signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the system controller transmits a video signal in the converted signals.

10. The signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the system controller further comprises a controller interface which enables the system controller to transmit signals compatible with the converted signals.

11. The signal distribution system of claim 4, wherein the converter includes a modem for converting received telephone line signals into signals compatible with the converted signals.

12. The signal distribution system of claim 4 wherein the system controller is a personal computer.

13. The signal distribution system of claim 2, wherein the common signal transfer medium comprises a coaxial cable.

14. The signal distribution system of claim 6, wherein the remote controller includes an input device for manually entering a command.

15. The signal distribution system of claim 6, wherein the command signal is transmitted via electromagnetic radiation.

16. The signal distribution system of claim 6, wherein the command signal is transmitted via local range FM radio.

17. The signal distribution system of claim 2, further comprising a second interface pod for receiving a converted signal for use by a second receiving unit.

18. A method of distributing signals on a common signal transfer medium to various receiving units, comprising the steps of:

receiving input signals having various formats dedicated to respective types of receiving units;

converting the input signals into converted signals having a common format;

broadcasting the converted signals on a common signal transfer medium; and

enabling a user to select one of the converted signals for delivery to one of the receiving units.

19. The method of distributing signals as in claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the converted signals from the common signal transfer medium;

generating a command signal, using a remote controller to a system controller for generating configuration signals;

delivering the configuration signals to an interface pod;

converting a selected portion of the converted signals, based on the configuration signals, to a format for use by a receiving unit; and

forwarding the selected portion to the receiving unit which is coupled to the interface pod.

20. The method of distributing signals as in claim 19, further comprising the step of including an interface pod address in the control signal and decoding the interface pod address to determine whether the control signal is directed towards the interface pod.

21. A signal distribution system for delivering multiple input signals on a common signal transfer medium to various receiving units, comprising:

means for receiving input signals of various formats dedicated to respective types of receiving units;

means for converting the received input signals into converted signals forming components of a common format signal;

means for broadcasting the common format signal on a common signal transfer medium.;

interface pod means for receiving a portion of the common format signal from the common signal transfer medium and transmitting the portion to a receiving unit; and

a system controller enabling a user to select the portion of the common format signal for delivery to one of the receiving units.

22. A system for distributing multiple input signals on a common signal transfer medium to a first receiving unit of a first type and to a second receiving unit of a second type, comprising:

(a) a converter including

(1) a first channel having

(i) analog input terminals for receiving an analog input signal of a first format compatible with the first receiving unit; and

(ii) an analog translator for converting the analog input signal to a first converted signal in a first selected frequency band of a first selected width in a common format;

(2) a second channel having

(i) digital input terminals for receiving a digital input signal of a second format compatible with the second receiving unit; and

(ii) a digital translator for converting the digital input signal to a second converted signal in a second selected frequency band of a second selected width in the common format; and

(3) a modulator for transmitting the first and second converted signals on the common signal transfer medium;

(b) a first interface pod, coupled to the common signal transfer medium and to the first receiving unit, responsive to selected control signals received via the common signal transfer medium, for translating converted signals to the format for use by one of the receiving units;

(c) a second interface pod, coupled to the common signal transfer medium and to the second receiving unit, responsive to selected control signals received via the common signal transfer medium, for translating second converted signals to the second format for use by the second receiving unit; and

(d) a system controller enabling a user to select a respective one of the converted signals for translation by each interface pod.