Adapter and method for use in a portable communication signal receiver system

• US 6,259,891 B1
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US08/923,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 455/433, 455/435, 455/445, 455/466, 455/550, 455/552, 455/553, 455/554, 455/557, 455/560, 455/427, 455/2.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/571, 455/66, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 725/66, 725/63, 725/121, 725/105, 725/1, 725/123, 725/131, 725/139, 725/110
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• 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 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A communication signal adapter is connected between a portable satellite signal receiver/decoder and a wireless local area network (LAN) transceiver to enable wireless communication between the portable satellite signal receiver/decoder and a wireless LAN. The adapter includes a modem interface adapter and a communications processor that converts information, such as callback data and viewer statistical data, developed by the satellite signal receiver/decoder in a proprietary format, to a data format that is suitable for transmission via the wireless LAN transceiver and then provides the converted data to the wireless LAN transceiver for communication to the LAN. The adapter also includes a microprocessor that controls text insertion control circuitry which is used to convert data signals, such as text messages, delivered from the wireless LAN into signals that are suitable for display on a television and which also inserts the converted text messages into a video signal developed by the portable satellite signal receiver/decoder for display on a standard television.

Claims

1. An adapter capable of being coupled between a wireless local area network and a satellite integrated receiver/decoder, comprising:

first means for receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder in a telephone network format suitable for transmission via a telephone network;

means for converting the information signal to a computer interface format that is compatible with a wireless local area network protocol; and

means for delivering the converted information signal in the computer interface format that is compatible with the wireless local area network protocol to the wireless local area network.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the telephone network format is a tone coded telephone signal format and wherein the computer interface format is a binary data signal format.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the information signal comprises billing information related to the satellite integrated receiver/decoder.

4. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the information signal comprises viewer statistical information related to the satlite integrated receiver/decoder.

5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the information signal comprises billing information related to the satellite integrated receiver/decoder.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is capable of being coupled to a display device, and further comprising second means for receiving a first communication signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder, third means for receiving a data signal from the local area network, means for combining the data signal with the fit communication signal to produce a second communication signal, and means for transmitting the second communication signal to the display device.

7. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the third receiving means includes a processor that controls the combining means.

8. The adapter of claim 7, further comprising fourth means for receiving a control signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder in a first format, further means for converting the control signal to a second format, and means for delivering the control signal in the second format to the processor.

9. The adapter of claim 6 wherein the third receiving means includes a memory that stores the data signal.

10. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the first communication signal is a video signal, wherein the data signal is a text message, and wherein the combining means includes a text format controller that converts the text message into a video format.

11. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the combining means includes a picture-in-picture insertion unit.

12. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the satellite integrated receiver/decoder is adapted to receive and decode video signals, and wherein the first and second communication signals are video signals.

13. The adapter of claim 6, wherein the data signal is an e-mail message.

14. A direct broadcast satellite (DBS) video communication system adapted to be coupled to a display device the communication system comprising:

a satellite integrated receiver/decoder;

a wireless local area network transceiver; and

an adapter coupled between the satellite integrated receiver/decoder and the wireless local area network transceiver, said adapter including;

first means for receiving a first video signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder;

second means for receiving a data signal from the wireless local area network transceiver;

means for combining the data signal with the first video signal to produce a second video signal;

means for transmitting the second video signal to the display device;

further means for receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder in a first format suitable for transmission by a telephone network;

means for converting the information signal to a second format suitable for transmission by a wireless local area network; and

means for delivering the information signal in the second format to the wireless local area network transceiver.

15. The DBS video communication system of claim 14 wherein the information signal comprises billing information related to the first video signal.

16. The DBS video communication system of claim 14, wherein the data signal is a text message and wherein the combining means includes a text format controller that converts the text message into a video format.

17. The DBS video communication system of claim 14, wherein the combining means includes a picture-in-picture insertion unit.

18. A portable communication system adapted to be coupled between a wireless local area network transceiver and a display device, the communication system comprising:

a satellite integrated receiver/decoder;

first means for receiving a first video signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder;

second means for receiving a data signal from the wireless local area network transceiver;

means for combining the data signal with the first video signal to produce a second video signal;

means for transmitting the second video signal to the display device;

further means for receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder in a first format suitable for transmission by a telephone network;

means for converting the information signal to a second format suitable for transmission by a wireless local area networks; and

means for delivering the information signal in the second format to the wireless local area network transceiver.

19. The portable communication system of claim 18 wherein the information signal comprises billing information related to the first video signal.

20. The portable communication system of claim 18, wherein the data signal is a text message and wherein the combining means includes a text format controller that converts the text message into a video format.

21. The portable communication system of claim 18, wherein the combining means includes a picture-in-picture insertion unit.

22. An adapter capable of being coupled between a wireless local area network transceiver unit and satellite integrated receiver/decoder and further being capable of being coupled to a display device, comprising:

first means for receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder in a first format suitable for transmission via a telephone network;

means for converting the information signal to a second format suitable for transmission via a wireless local area network;

means for delivering the converted information signal in the second format to the wireless local area network transceiver unit;

second means for receiving a first communication signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder, wherein the first communication signal is a video signal;

third means for receiving a data signal from the wireless local area network transceiver unit, wherein the data signal is a text message;

means for combining the data signal with the first communications signal to produce a second communication signal, wherein the combining means includes a text format controller that converts the text message into a video format and further wherein the combining means includes a switch that switches the combining means between a first state in which the combining means combines the text message in the video format with the first communication signal to produce the second communication signal, and a second state in which the combining means passes the first communication signal unaltered as the second communication signal; and

means for transmitting the second communication signal to the display device.

23. A method for enabling communication between a satellite integrated receiver/decoder and a wireless local area network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder wherein the information signal is in a telephone network format suitable for transmission via a telephone network;

converting the information signal to a computer interface format that is compatible with a wireless local area network protocol; and

delivering the converted information signal in the computer interface format that is compatible with the wireless local area network protocol to the wireless local area network.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the information signal comprises billing information related to the satellite integrated receiver/decoder.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the information signal comprises viewer statistical information related to the satellite integrated receiver/decoder.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a first communication signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder;

receiving a data signal from the local area network;

combining the first communication signal with the data signal to form a second communication signal; and

delivering the second communication signal to a display device.

27. A method for enabling communication between a satellite integrated receiver/decoder and a local area network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information signal from the satellite integrated receiver/decoder wherein the information signal is in a first format;

converting the information signal to a second format; and

delivering the converted information signal in the second format to the local area network wherein the step of delivering the converted information signal in the second format to the local area network comprises;

converting the information signal in the second format to a third format suitable for transmission via a first wireless transceiver;

delivering the information signal in the third format to the first wireless transceiver;

causing the wireless transceiver to deliver the information signal in the third format to a second wireless transceiver;

causing the second wireless transceiver to convert the information signal in the third format to the second format; and

causing the second wireless transceiver to convert the information signal in the second format to the local area network.