Multimedia system with selectable protocol module including MPEG logic and docsis logic sharing a single tuner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multimedia apparatus comprising:
- a tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a baseband multimedia signal;
a selectable protocol module including QAM/MPEG logic and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“
DOCSIS”
) logic each configured to share said tuner to receive said baseband multimedia signal; and
selection logic configured to select said QAM/MPEG logic for processing a first signal having a first signal format to produce a first processed signal, said selection logic further configured to select said DOCSIS logic for processing a second signal having a second signal format to produce a second processed signal wherein said selection logic is further configured to cause said second processed signal to bypass a conditional access (“
CA”
) subsystem communicatively coupled to said selectable protocol module.
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Abstract
A multimedia apparatus is described comprising: a tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a baseband multimedia signal; a selectable protocol module including QAM/MPEG logic and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“DOCSIS”) logic configured to receive the baseband multimedia signal; and selection logic configured to select the QAM/MPEG logic for processing a first signal having a first signal format to produce a first processed signal, the selection logic further configured to select the DOCSIS logic for processing a second signal having a second signal format to produce a second processed signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A multimedia apparatus comprising:
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a tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a baseband multimedia signal;
a selectable protocol module including QAM/MPEG logic and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“
DOCSIS”
) logic each configured to share said tuner to receive said baseband multimedia signal; and
selection logic configured to select said QAM/MPEG logic for processing a first signal having a first signal format to produce a first processed signal, said selection logic further configured to select said DOCSIS logic for processing a second signal having a second signal format to produce a second processed signal wherein said selection logic is further configured to cause said second processed signal to bypass a conditional access (“
CA”
) subsystem communicatively coupled to said selectable protocol module.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a second tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a second frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a second baseband multimedia signal;
a QAM module for demodulating said second baseband signal; and
a second CA subsystem for demodulating said second baseband signal.
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4. The multimedia apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:
a second tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a second frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a second baseband multimedia signal; and
a QAM module for demodulating said second baseband signal, wherein a second CA subsystem demodulates said second baseband signal.
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5. The multimedia apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said first signal is a multimedia signal transmitted from a cable provider.
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6. The multimedia apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said second signal is a data signal transmitted from a server on the Internet.
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7. The multimedia apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said DOCSIS logic is further configured to transmit data over a network using a modulator/transmitter unit.
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8. The multimedia apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said data signal includes a Web page.
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9. A multimedia communication system comprising:
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a communication channel configured to switch between a first mode in which said communication channel receives from a tuner and decodes a first multimedia signal using MPEG logic, and a second mode in which said communication channel receives from the same turner and transmits data and/or multimedia content according to the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“
DOCSIS”
) standard wherein a selection logic configured to select MPEG logic for producing a first processed signal and configured to select said DOCSIS logic for producing a second processed signal, and wherein said selection logic is further configured to cause said second processed signal to bypass a conditional access (“
CA”
) module communicatively coupled to said switch communication channel.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a second communication channel configured to switch between a first mode in which said second communication channel receives and decodes a first multimedia signal using MPEG logic, and a second mode in which said second communication channel transmits and receives data and/or multimedia content according to the DOCSIS standard.
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12. The multimedia communication system as in claim 11 wherein comprising:
said CA module module shared between said first communication channel and said second communication channel.
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13. The multimedia communication system as in claim 9 further comprising:
a mass storage device for storing said data and/or said multimedia content.
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14. The multimedia communication system as in claim 9 further comprising:
selection logic configured to select between said first mode and said second mode.
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15. The multimedia communication system as in claim 14 wherein said selection logic is software executed by a central processing unit.
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16. A method implemented by a multimedia service provider for transitioning to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“
- DOCSIS”
) communication standard comprising;providing subscribers with a first type of multimedia system having one or more selectable protocol modules, said selectable protocol modules each receiving baseband multimedia signals from a single tuner and being capable of selecting between a legacy communication standard and a DOCSIS communication standard for transmitting/receiving data and/or multimedia content; and
switching from said legacy communication standard to a DOCSIS-only communication standard to transmit/receive multimedia content and/or data; and
providing new subscribers with a second type of multimedia system having one or more DOCSIS modules capable of transmitting/receiving data and/or multimedia content according to the DOCSIS standard wherein multimedia content and/or data is transmitted to end users using a secure point-to-point transmission standard rather than using a conditional access (“
CA”
) module.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- DOCSIS”
Specification