Interface device between a semiconductor storage medium for multimedia and a standard video terminal

• US 6,771,322 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SmarDTV S.A. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: SCM Microsystems GmbH (Identive Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Neifer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/647,945
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/589, 348/600, 348/734, 348/553, 348/714, 348/719-721, 725/139-142, 725/131-134, 725/151-153, 710/305, 710/307, 710/313, 710/62
• US Class Current: 348/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

The interface device between a semiconductor storage medium (18) for multimedia contents and a television standard video port comprises a PCMCIA slot (14) and a card reader (16) in a PCMCIA card format which is connectable therewith. A video graphics control unit (42) is connected to a video overlay interface (40) arranged between the PCMCIA slot (14) and the graphics control unit. A RAM memory (44) is allocated to the video graphics control unit (42). A digital-to-analog encoder (50) is arranged between an output of the video graphics control unit (42) and the SCART format television standard video port. The card reader is configured for the particular data format of the semiconductor storage medium (18) and transfers the data read out of the semiconductor storage medium (18) to the video overlay interface (40) in a data format suitable for the latter.

Claims

1. An interface device between a semiconductor storage medium and a television standard video port, comprising:

at least one PCMCIA slot coupled to a video overlay interface, wherein the PCMCIA slot is configured to receive a card reader in a PCMCIA card format, the card reader is capable of receiving the semiconductor storage medium in multiple data formats and converting data stored in the semiconductor storage medium into a format compatible with the video overlay interface, and wherein the video overlay interface is configured to process the converted data from the card reader into one or more video signals;

a video graphics control unit to receive the one or more signals from the video overlay interface and to provide video data based on the received signals, wherein the video overlay interface is coupled between the video graphics control unit and the PCMCIA slot;

a RAM memory allocated to the video graphics control unit; and

a digital-to-analog decoder to output an analog signal derived from the video data provided from the video graphics control unit to the television standard video port;

and wherein the PCMCIA slot is adapted to be switched over between at least two of the following standard formats;

video port format, common interface format, 1394 interface format, and USB format.

2. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes means for decrypting data stored in the semiconductor storage medium.

3. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes a conditional access module.

4. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the card reader includes an interface for connection to an external data channel for any of the following standard formats:

video port format, common interface format, 1394 interface format, and USB format.

5. The interface device according to claim 4, wherein the card reader includes an infrared transceiver for connection to the data channel.

6. The interface device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a high-speed modem to feed data from the semiconductor storage medium to a remote network.

7. The interface device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a network adapter to feed data from the semiconductor storage medium to a remote network.

8. An interface device between a semiconductor storage medium and a television standard video port, comprising:

a first PCMCIA slot;

a media card reader in a PCMCIA card format;

a video graphics control unit;

a video overlay interface coupled between the PCMCIA slot and the graphics control unit, the video overlay interface associated with a predetermined data format;

a RAM memory associated with the video graphics control unit;

a digital-to-analog decoder coupled between the video graphics control unit and the television standard video port;

a second PCMCIA slot; and

a chip card reader;

wherein the media card reader is configured for a particular data format associated with the semiconductor storage medium and for converting data from the semiconductor storage medium to the predetermined data format of the video overlay interface;

and wherein the chip card reader includes an accumulator chargeable by the interface device for stand-alone operation outside of the interface device.

9. The interface device according to claim 8, wherein the chip card reader is further configured for insertion into a remote control unit.

10. The interface device according to claim 9, wherein the remote control unit is coupled with the interface device via a bi-directional wireless transmission channel.

11. An interface device between a semiconductor storage medium and a television standard video port, the interface device comprising:

at least one PCMCIA slot coupled to a video overlay interface, wherein the PCMCIA slot is configured to receive a card reader in a PCMCIA card format, the card reader is capable of receiving the semiconductor storage medium in multiple data formats and converting data stored in the semiconductor storage medium into a format compatible with the video overlay interface, and wherein the video overlay interface is configured to process the converted data from the card reader into one or more video signals;

a video graphics control unit to receive the one or more signals from the video overlay interface and to provide video data based on the received signals, wherein the video overlay interface is coupled between the video graphics control unit and the PCMCIAslot;

a RAM memory allocated to the video graphics control unit; and

a digital-to-analog decoder to output an analog signal derived from the video data provided from the video graphics control unit to the television standard video port.

12. The interface device according to claim 11, wherein the card reader includes means for decrypting data stored in the semiconductor storage medium.

13. The interface device according to claim 11, wherein the card reader includes means for carrying out a user authorization check.

14. The interface device according to claim 11, wherein the PCMCIA slot is adapted to be changed over between at least two of the following standard formats;

video port format, common interface format, 1394 interface format, and USB format.

15. The interface device according to claim 14, wherein the card reader includes an interface for connecting an external data channel for any one of the following standard formats:

video port format, common interface format, 1394 interface format, and USB format.

16. The interface device according to claim 15, wherein the card reader includes an infrared receiver coupled with the external data channel.

17. The interface device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a high-speed modem for transferring data from the semiconductor storage medium to a remote network.

18. The interface device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a network adapter for transferring data from the semiconductor storage medium to a remote network.

19. An interface device between a semiconductor storage medium and a television standard video port, the interface device comprising:

at least one PCMCIA slot coupled to a video overlay interface, wherein the PCMCIA slot is configured to receive a card reader in a PCMCIA card format, the card reader is capable of receiving the semiconductor storage medium in multiple data formats and converting data stored in the semiconductor storage medium into a format compatible with the video overlay interface, and wherein the video overlay interface is configured to process the converted data from the card reader into one or more video signals;

a video graphics control unit to receive the one or more signals from the video overlay interface and to provide video data based on the received signals, wherein the video overlay interface is coupled between the video graphics control unit and the PCMCIA slot;

a RAM memory allocated to the video graphics control unit; and

a digital-to-analog decoder to output an analog signal derived from the video data provided from the video graphics control unit to the television standard video port; and

a second PCMCIA slot and a chip card reader, the chip card reader includes an accumulator chargeable by the interface device for a stand-alone operation outside said interface device.

20. The interface device according to claim 19, wherein the chip card reader is connected to a remote control unit.

21. The interface device according to claim 20, wherein the remote control unit is coupled to the interface device via a bi-directional infrared interface.