Integrated receiver decoder and method for simultaneously transmitting compressed and uncompressed signals

• US 6,985,530 B1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zerbe, Nathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/223,965
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 37524001-24029, 386/46, 380/201, 380/212, 725/39
• US Class Current: 375/240.29
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

An integrated receiver decoder is provided for allowing simultaneous transmission of compressed and uncompressed signals for an audio/video program. The integrated receiver decoder includes a demodulator for receiving a modulated carrier signal and extracting a baseband signal therefrom. The demodulator transmits the baseband signal to a demultiplexor. The demultiplexor extracts a selected compressed signal from the baseband signal. The demultiplexor then transmits the selected compressed signal to a compression decoder for converting the selected compressed signal into a selected uncompressed signal. The compression decoder then transmits the selected uncompressed signal to a graphics overlay device for blending the selected uncompressed signal with user interface graphics. Thereafter, a digital transport device combines the selected compressed signals with a blended uncompressed signal so as to produce a multiplexed signal for transmission through a universal interface output.

Claims

1. An integrated receiver decoder comprising:

a demodulator receiving a modulated carrier signal and extracting a baseband signal from said modulated carrier signal;

a demultiplexor coupled to said demodulator and receiving said baseband signal therefrom, said demultiplexor extracting a selected compressed signal from said baseband signal;

a compression decoder coupled to said demultiplexor and receiving said selected compressed signal therefrom, said compression decoder converting said selected compressed signal into a selected uncompressed signal;

a graphics overlay device coupled to said compression decoder and said demultiplexor, said graphics overlay device receiving said selected uncompressed signal from said compression decoder, said graphics overlay device receiving said selected compressed signal from said demultiplexor, said graphics overlay device blending said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal with a plurality of user interface graphics; and

a digital transport device coupled to said graphics overlay device, said digital transport device receiving said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal from said graphics overlay device, said digital transport device combining said selected uncompressed signal and said selected compressed signal into a multiplexed signal for transmission through a universal interface output.

2. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 1 wherein said selected compressed signal comprises a compressed audio signal, a compressed video signal, and a compressed data signal.

3. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 1 wherein said selected uncompressed signal comprises an uncompressed audio signal, an uncompressed video signal, and an uncompressed data signal.

4. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 1 wherein said compression decoder includes control logic for decompressing at least one of an MPEG-1 format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-3 format, an MPEG-4 format, and an MP3 format.

5. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 1 wherein said demodulator is coupled to at least one of a satellite transmitter, a cable transmitter, and a terrestrial transmitter, said demodulator receiving said modulated carrier signal therefrom.

6. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 1 wherein said universal interface output is coupled to at least one of a display device and a recording device.

7. An integrated receiver decoder comprising:

a demodulator receiving a modulated carrier signal and extracting a baseband signal from said modulated carrier signal;

a demultiplexor coupled to said demodulator and receiving said baseband signal therefrom, said demultiplexor extracting a selected compressed signal from said baseband signal;

a compression decoder coupled to said demultiplexor and receiving said selected compressed signal therefrom, said compression decoder converting said selected compressed signal into a selected uncompressed signal;

a graphics overlay device coupled to said compression decoder and said demultiplexor, said graphics overlay device receiving said selected uncompressed signal from said compression decoder, said graphics overlay device receiving said selected compressed signal from said demultiplexor, said graphics overlay device blending said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal with a plurality of user interface graphics;

a digital transport device coupled to said graphics overlay device, said digital transport device receiving said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal from said graphics overlay device, said digital transport device combining said selected uncompressed signal and said selected compressed signal into a multiplexed signal for transmission through a universal interface output; and

a de-scrambler operatively connected between said demodulator and said compression decoder, said de-scrambler for decrypting at least said selected uncompressed signal.

8. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 7 wherein said selected compressed signal comprises a compressed audio signal, a compressed video signal, and a compressed data signal.

9. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 7 wherein said selected uncompressed signal comprises an uncompressed audio signal, an uncompressed video signal, and an uncompressed data signal.

10. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 7 wherein said compression decoder includes control logic for decompressing at least one of an MPEG-1 format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-3 format, an MPEG-4 format, and an MP3 format.

11. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 7 wherein said demodulator is coupled to at least one of a satellite transmitter, a cable transmitter, and a terrestrial transmitter, said demodulator receiving said modulated carrier signal therefrom.

12. The integrated receiver decoder of claim 7 wherein said universal interface output is coupled to at least one of a display device and a recording device.

13. A method for simultaneously transmitting compressed and uncompressed signals to a peripheral device, the method comprising:

extracting a baseband signal from a modulated carrier signal;

extracting a selected compressed signal from said baseband signal;

converting said selected compressed signal into a selected uncompressed signal;

converting said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal into a blended compressed signal and a blended uncompressed signal; and

combining said blended compressed signal and said blended uncompressed signal into a multiplexed signal for transmission through a universal interface output.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transmitting said modulated carrier signal to a demodulator for said extracting said baseband signal from said modulated carrier signal;

transmitting said baseband signal to a demultiplexor for said extracting said selected compressed signal from said baseband signal;

transmitting said selected compressed signal to a compression decoder for said converting said selected compressed signal into said selected uncompressed signal;

transmitting said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal to a graphics overlay device for said blending said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal with a plurality of user interface graphics; and

transmitting said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal to a digital transport device for said combining said selected compressed signal and said selected uncompressed signal into said multiplexed signal for transmission through said universal interface output.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

de-scrambling said blended compressed signal and said blended uncompressed signal.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

transmitting said blended compressed signal and said blended uncompressed signal to a de-scrambler for said de-scrambling said blended compressed signal and said blended uncompressed signal.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transmitting said multiplexed signal to at least one of a display device and a recording device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said display device processes said multiplexed signal and displays at least one audio/video program.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said multiplexed signal includes a compressed audio signal, a compressed video signal, an uncompressed audio signal, and an uncompressed video signal.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said compression decoder is at least one of an MPEG-1 format, an MPEG-2 format, an MPEG-3 format, an MPEG-4 format, and an MP3 format.