Set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement

• US 6,493,874 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Humpleman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/771,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20010005906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 725/110, 725/117, 725/118, 725/119, 725/78, 725/79
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0048 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/005 Terminal equipment, e.g. codecs, synch
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0089 Multiplexing, e.g. coding, scrambling, SONET
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5674 Synchronisation, timing recovery or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42607 for processing the incoming bitstream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement is connected to an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. The digital network operates on a single, nomodulated, baseband channel. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units perform the necessary interfacing between the external and internal networks, and make the entertainment services available to all terminals connected to the internal network. Set-top electronics that are separate from the network interface units connect to the internal network and convert the information in the digital data stream for display, by a television, for example.

Claims

1. A set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement for use with an internal network configured to provide a network connection between the set-top electronics and the network interface unit, the set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement, comprising:

a network interface unit having at least one network interface module adapted for connection to an external network, a transport device, coupled to the network interface module, for selecting a single program from a plurality of programs in a first signal received from the external network via the network interface module, and an internal network interface, coupled to the transport device, for interfacing to the internal network, wherein the network interface unit provides a second signal that includes the single program to the internal network; and

a set-top electronics unit having an internal network interface device adapted for connection to the internal network for interfacing to the internal network to receive the second signal from the network interface unit via the internal network, and a signal converter coupled to the network interface device for converting the second signal as received by the internal network interface device to a third signal that is suitable for use by an end terminal, wherein the third signal includes information corresponding the single program, and

wherein the set-top electronics unit is further configured to re-route the second signal received from the network interface unit via the internal network by examining an address within the second signal and rerouting the second signal if the address is different from an address assigned to the set-top electronics unit.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the transport device is an MPEG transport device for selecting a single program transport from a multiple program transport stream in the first signal.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the internal network interface of the network interface unit includes an MPEG to internal network synthesizer that converts clocking of the first signal from an MPEG clocking to an internal network clocking of the second signal.

4. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the internal network interface device of the set-top electronics unit includes an internal network to MPEG synthesizer that converts clocking of the second signal from the internal network clocking to the MPEG clocking of the first signal.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the internal network interface of the network interface unit is an Ethernet interface.

6. A set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement comprising:

network interface unit having at least one network interface module adapted for connection to an external network, a transport device, coupled to the network interface module, for selecting a single program from a plurality of programs in a first signal received from the external network via the network interface module, and an internal network interface, coupled to the transport device, for interfacing to an internal network, wherein the network interface unit provides a second signal that includes the single program to the internal network;

a set-top electronics unit having an internal network interface device adapted for connection to the internal network for interfacing to the internal network to receive the second signal from the network interface unit via the internal network, and a signal converter coupled to the network interface device for converting the second signal as received by the internal network interface device to a third signal that is suitable for use by an end terminal, wherein the third signal includes information corresponding to the single program; and

wherein the internal network includes a hub and a direct circuit crossbar, the internal network being configurable to selectively provide a direct circuit network connection between the set-top electronics and the network interface unit.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the transport device is an MPEG transport device for selecting a single program transport from a multiple program transport stream in the first signal.

8. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the internal network interface of the network interface unit includes an MPEG to internal network synthesizer that converts clocking of the first signal from an MPEG clocking to an internal network clocking of the second signal.

9. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the internal network interface device of the set-top electronics unit includes an internal network to MPEG synthesizer that converts clocking of the second signal from the internal network clocking to the MPEG clocking of the first signal.

10. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the internal network interface of the network unit is an Ethernet interface.