Method and systems using a set-top box and communicating between a remote data network and a wireless communication network

• US 7,027,768 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, George E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/269,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/66.1, 455/344, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/471, 455/3.06, 725/26
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems for connecting a set-top box (STB) to the Internet over existing and future wireless networks, combining television with wireless Internet access. A conventional television is used in combination with a STB that has a wireless or wired keyboard, a power supply, and audio/visual connections for connecting the STB to the television. In an embodiment, a wireless telephone is placed in a docking station on top of the STB, providing the user with both data (when docked) and voice capabilities (when being used simply for telephone calls). CDMA, CDPD, or other wireless technologies may used for connection to the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a remote data network and a set-top box via a wireless communications device with a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) modem, comprising:

inserting the wireless communications device in a docking station of the set-top box before triggering the wireless communications device to enter CDPD mode;

sending a command instructing the wireless communications device to connect to the remote data network in point-to-point protocol (PPP) mode;

upon connection to the remote data network, receiving a data stream from the remote data network including a PPP data packet;

filtering the data stream after receiving a first string and before suppressing a number of bytes associated with the PPP data packet; and

after suppressing the number of bytes associated with the PPP data packet, transmitting the data stream to the set-top box.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device is a wireless telephone and the set-top box includes a docking station in which the wireless telephone is inserted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing the data stream for display on a television set connected to the set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving infrared control signals from a user utilizing a peripheral device, wherein the peripheral device is a wireless keyboard.