Method and apparatus for multimedia system

• US 7,099,951 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: VIXS Incorporated
• Inventors: Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nano, Sargon N.
• Application Number:
  US09/864,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/231, 709/226, 709/232
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing multimedia services to a local area network includes processing that begins by receiving a plurality of channels from at least one multimedia source. The processing continues by receiving selection requests from at least one client module via a communication path. The processing continues by generating a set of channel select commands from the select request. The processing continues by selecting a set of channels from the plurality of channels based on the set of channel select commands. The processing continues by mixing the set of channels into a stream of channel data. The processing then continues by transmitting the stream of channel data via the communication path to the at least one client module such that each client associated with a client module receives the channel data for the respective channels that they had selected.

Claims

1. A multimedia system comprises:

multimedia server operably coupled to receive a plurality of channels of a multimedia source, wherein the multimedia server includes;

tuning module operably coupled to receive the plurality of channels and to select a set of channels from the plurality of channels based on a set of channel select commands that is derived from select requests;

channel mixer operably coupled to mix the set of channels into a stream of channel data; and

first transceiving module operably coupled to transmit the stream of channel data on to a first communication path and to receive the select requests;

second transceiving module operably coupled to transmit the stream of channel data via a second communication path;

control module operably coupled to the tuning module, the channel mixer, the first transceiving module and the second transceiving module, wherein the control module interprets the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands, wherein the control module facilitates formatting the stream of channel data for transmission via the first transceiving module and the second transceiving module, and wherein the control module facilitates deformatting of the select requests; and

client module that produces the select requests for at least one of a plurality of clients, wherein the at least one of the plurality of clients is operably coupled to receive at least a portion of the stream of channel data, wherein the client module includes;

selection module operable to produce at least one of the select requests; and

network interface controller operably coupled to transmit the at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and to receive the stream of channel data via the first communication path.

2. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clients comprises at least one of:

a computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a video telephone, a digital telephone, a cellular telephone, a monitor, a television, a high definition television, printer, and a facsimile machine.

3. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the first communication path comprises at least one of:

wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the wireline connection utilizing a type of transceiving that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

transmit wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit wireline connection utilizing a type of transmission that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

receive wireline connection, wherein the select requests are received via the receive wireline connection utilizing a type of reception that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests, are transceived via the radio frequency path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit radio frequency path utilizing the type of transmission;

receive radio frequency path, wherein the select requests are received via the receive radio frequency path utilizing the type of reception;

infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the infrared path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit infrared path utilizing the type of transmission; and

receive infrared path, wherein the select requests are received via the receive infrared path utilizing the type of reception.

4. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises:

host processor, external I/O bus, host memory, memory bridge interoperably coupled to provide server control operations, wherein the server control operations include;

interpreting the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands; and

coordinating the mixing of the set of channels, formatting of the stream of channel data and transmitting the formatted channel data, such that a client of the plurality of clients receives appropriate requested data.

5. The multimedia system of claim 4, wherein the control module further comprises:

hard drive operably coupled to store at least a portion of the stream of data.

6. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises:

means for processing client access privileges for each of the plurality of clients.

7. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiving module further comprises:

an analog multiplexor for converting the stream of channel data into analog signals, wherein the analog signals are transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

8. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the set of channel select commands comprises at least one of:

audio channel select;

video channel select;

audio source;

video source;

volume adjust;

picture quality settings and adjustments;

displaying restrictions;

purchase requests;

picture-in-picture activation and deactivation;

picture-in-picture channel select;

video blanking; and

audio muting.

9. The multimedia system of claim 1, wherein the first transceiving module further comprises:

encoder operably coupled to encode the stream of data prior to transmitting the stream of channel data, wherein the encoder encodes the stream of data based on at least one of;

multilevel encoding;

non return to zero (NRZ) encoding;

Manchester encoding;

block encoding; and

nB/mB encoding, where n<

m.

10. A multimedia system comprises:

multimedia server operably coupled to receive data from a plurality of multimedia sources and to provide a stream of channel data from channels associated with the plurality of multimedia sources based on a set of channel select commands are derived from select requests, wherein the multimedia server comprises;

tuning module operably coupled to receive the channels from the plurality of multimedia sources and to select a set of channels based on the set of channel select commands;

channel mixer operably coupled to mix the set of channels into a stream of channel data;

transceiving module operably coupled to transmit the stream of channel data on to a communication path and to receive the select requests;

control module operably coupled to the tuning module, the channel mixer, and the transceiving module, the control module including a host processor, external I/O bus, host memory, and memory bridge interoperably coupled to provide server control operations, wherein the control module interprets the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands, wherein the control module facilitates formatting the stream of channel data for transmission via the transceiving module, and wherein the control module facilitates deformatting of the select requests; and

a plurality of client modules operably coupled to the multimedia server to provide the select requests, wherein at least some of the plurality of client modules are operably coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of clients, and wherein each of the corresponding ones of the plurality of clients displays at least a portion of the stream of channel data, wherein the at least one of the set of channel select commands provided to the multimedia server by an affiliated one of the at least some of the plurality of client modules;

wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the wireline connection utilizing a type of transceiving that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

transmit wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit wireline connection utilizing a type of transmission that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, chase shift keying, quadrature chase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

receive wireline connection, wherein the select requests are received via the receive wireline connection utilizing a type of reception that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the radio frequency path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit radio frequency path, wherein the stream channel data is transmitted via the transmit radio frequency path utilizing the type of transmission;

receive radio frequency path wherein the select requests are received via the receive radio frequency path utilizing the type of reception;

infrared path wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the infrared path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit infrared path utilizing the type of transmission; and

receive infrared path wherein the select requests are received via the receive infrared path utilizing the type of reception.

11. The multimedia system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of client modules comprises:

selection module operable to produce at least one of the select requests; and

transmitting module operably coupled to the communication path to transmit the at least one of the select requests to the multimedia server.

12. The multimedia system of claim 10, wherein the server control operations include:

interpreting the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands; and

coordinating the mixing of the set of channels, formatting of the stream of channel data and transmitting the formatted channel data, such that a client of the plurality of clients receives appropriate requested data.

13. The multimedia system of claim 12, wherein the control module further comprises:

hard drive operably coupled to store at least a portion of the stream of data.

14. The multimedia system of claim 10, wherein the control module further comprises:

means for processing client access privileges for each of the plurality of clients.

15. The multimedia system of claim 10, wherein the transceiving module further comprises:

encoder operably coupled to encode the stream of data prior to transmitting the stream of channel data, wherein the encoder encodes the stream of data based on at least one of;

multilevel encoding;

non return to zero (NRZ) encoding;

Manchester encoding;

block encoding; and

nB/mB encoding, where n<

m.

16. A multimedia server for using a multimedia system, the multimedia server comprises:

tuning module operably coupled to receive a plurality of channels from a multimedia source and to select a set of channels from the plurality of channels based on a set of channel select commands that is derived from select requests;

channel mixer operably coupled to mix the set of channels into a stream of channel data;

transceiving module including a router, operably coupled to transmit the stream of channel data on to a communication path and to receive the select requests from at least one client module, remote from the multimedia server and affiliated with at least one of a the plurality of clients, wherein the communication path comprises;

wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the wireline connection utilizing a type of transceiving that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

transmit wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit wireline connection utilizing a type of transmission that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection; and

receive wireline connection, wherein the select requests are received via the receive wireline connection utilizing a type of reception that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature, phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection; and

control module operably to the tuning module, the channel mixer, and the transceiving module, wherein the control module interprets the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands, wherein the control module facilitates formatting the stream of channel data for transmission via the transceiving module, and wherein the control module facilitates deformatting of the select requests;

wherein the control module formats the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data,

wherein the router provides the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the wireline connection,

wherein the client module causes the select requests to be formatted based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted select requests,

wherein the router receives the formatted select requests via the wireline connection during receiving intervals on the wireline connection, and

wherein the control module determines the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

17. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the transceiving module further comprises, when the communication path includes the transmit wireline connection:

transmission router operably coupled to the control module and the channel mixer,

wherein the control module causes the stream of channel data to be formatted based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data, and

wherein the transmission router provides the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

18. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the transceiving module further comprises, when the communication path includes the receive wireline connection:

reception router operably coupled to the control module,

wherein the client module formats at least one of;

the select requests and inbound data based on the type of reception to produce formatted reception data, and

wherein the reception router receives the formatted reception data via the wireline connection.

19. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the control module further comprises:

host processor, external I/O bus, host memory, memory bridge interoperably coupled to provide server control operations, wherein the server control operations include;

interpreting the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands; and

coordinating the mixing of the set of channels, formatting of the stream of channel data and transmitting the formatted channel data, such that a client of the plurality of clients receives appropriate requested data.

20. The multimedia server of claim 19, wherein the control module further comprises:

hard drive operably coupled to store at least a portion of the stream of data.

21. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the control module further comprises:

means for processing client access privileges for each of the plurality of clients.

22. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the transceiving module further comprises:

an analog multiplexor for converting the stream of channel data into analog signals, wherein the analog signals are transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

23. The multimedia server of claim 16 further comprises:

second transceiving module operably coupled to transmit the stream of channel data via a second communication path.

24. The multimedia server of claim 16, wherein the transceiving module further comprises:

encoder operably coupled to encode the stream of data prior to transmitting the stream of channel data, wherein the encoder encodes the stream of data based on at least one of;

multilevel encoding;

non return to zero (NRZ) encoding;

Manchester encoding;

block encoding; and

nB/mB encoding, where n<

m.

25. A method comprising:

providing multimedia services to a local area network having at least one communication path that comprises at least one of;

radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the radio frequency path utilizing the type of transceiving that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

transmit radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit radio frequency path utilizing the type of transmission that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

receive radio frequency path, wherein the select requests are received via the receive radio frequency path utilizing the type of reception that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the infrared path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit infrared path utilizing the type of transmission; and

receive infrared path, wherein the select requests are received via the receive infrared path utilizing the type of reception;

receiving a plurality of channels from at least one multimedia source;

receiving select requests from at least one client module via the communication path;

generating a set of channel select commands from the select requests;

selecting a set of channels from the plurality of channels based on the set of channel select commands;

mixing the set of channels into a stream of channel data; and

transmitting the stream of channel data on to the communication path such that at least one of a plurality of clients receives at least a portion of the stream of channel data.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

interpreting the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands;

formatting the stream of channel data for transmission via the transceiving module;

deformatting of the select requests as part of generating the set of channel select commands.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprises, when the communication path includes the radio frequency path:

formatting the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data;

providing the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the radio frequency path;

receiving formatted select requests via the radio frequency path during receiving intervals on the radio frequency path, wherein the client module formats the select requests based on the type of transceiving to produce the formatted select requests; and

determining the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprises, when the communication path includes the transmit radio frequency path:

formatting the stream of channel data based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data; and

providing the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients via the transmit radio frequency path.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprises, when the communication path includes the receive radio frequency path:

receiving formatted reception data via the receive radio frequency path, wherein the client module formats at least one of;

the select requests and inbound data based on the type of reception to produce the formatted reception data.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprises, when the communication path includes the infrared path:

formatting the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data;

providing the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the infrared path;

receiving formatted select requests via the infrared path during receiving intervals on the infrared path, wherein the client module formats the select requests based on the type of transceiving to produce the formatted select requests; and

determining the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprises, when the communication path includes the transmit infrared path:

formatting the stream of channel data based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data; and

providing the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients via the transmit infrared path.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprises, when the communication path includes the receive infrared path:

receiving formatted reception data via the receive infrared path, wherein the client module formats at least one of;

the select requests and inbound data based on the type of reception to produce the formatted reception data.

33. The method of claim 25 further comprises;

interpreting the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands; and

coordinating the mixing of the set of channels, formatting of the stream of channel data and transmitting the formatted channel data, such that a client of the plurality of clients receives appropriate requested data.

34. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

storing at least a portion of the stream of data on a hard drive.

35. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

processing client access privileges for each of the plurality of clients.

36. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

converting the stream of channel data into analog signals, wherein the analog signals are transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

37. The method of claim 25 further comprises:

transmitting the stream of channel data via a second communication path.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein transmitting the stream of channel data on to the communication path further comprises:

encoding the stream of data prior to transmitting the stream of channel data, wherein the encoding of the stream of data is based on at least one of;

multilevel encoding;

non return to zero (NRZ) encoding;

Manchester encoding;

block encoding; and

nB/mB encoding, where n<

m.

39. An apparatus for providing multimedia services to a local area network having a first communication path and s second communication path, the apparatus comprises:

processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive a plurality of channels from at least one multimedia source;

receive select requests from at least one client module via the communication path;

generate a set of channel select commands from the select requests;

select a set of channels from the plurality of channels based on the set of channel select commands;

mix the set of channels into a stream of channel data

transmit the stream of channel data on to the first communication path such that at least one of a plurality of clients receives at least a portion of the stream of channel data;

transmit the stream of channel data via the second communication path; and

wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the wireline connection utilizing a type of transceiving that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

transmit wireline connection, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit wireline connection utilizing a type of transmission that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, chase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

receive wireline connection, wherein the select requests are received via the receive wireline connection utilizing a type of reception that includes at least one of;

time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, pulse code modulation, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, carrier sense multi-access (CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance, and CSMA with collision detection;

radio frequency path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the radio frequency path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit radio frequency path, wherein the stream channel data is transmitted via the transmit radio frequency path utilizing the type of transmission;

receive radio frequency path wherein the select requests are received via the receive radio frequency path utilizing the type of reception;

infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data and the select requests are transceived via the infrared path utilizing the type of transceiving;

transmit infrared path, wherein the stream of channel data is transmitted via the transmit infrared path utilizing the type of transmission; and

receive infrared path, wherein the select requests are received via the received infrared path utilizing the type of reception.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

interpret the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands;

formatting the stream of channel data for transmission via the first transceiving module; and

deformatting of the select requests as part of generating the set of channel select commands.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the wireline connection:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data,

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the wireline connection,

receive formatted select requests via the wireline connection during receiving intervals on the wireline connection, wherein the client module formats the select requests based on the type of transceiving; and

determine the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the transmit wireline connection:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data, and

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the radio frequency path:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data;

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the radio frequency path;

receive formatted select requests via the radio frequency path during receiving intervals on the radio frequency path, wherein the client module formats the select requests based on the type of transceiving to produce the formatted select requests; and

determine the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the transmit radio frequency path:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data; and

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients via the transmit radio frequency path.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the receive radio frequency path:

receive formatted reception data via the receive radio frequency path, wherein the client module formats at least one of;

the select requests and inbound data based on the type of reception to produce the formatted reception data.

46. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the infrared path:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transceiving to produce formatted channel data;

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients during transmitting intervals on the infrared path;

receive formatted select requests via the infrared path during receiving intervals on the infrared path, wherein the client module formats the select requests based on the type of transceiving to produce the formatted select requests; and

determine the transmitting intervals and the receiving intervals.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the transmit infrared path:

format the stream of channel data based on the type of transmission to produce formatted channel data; and

provide the formatted channel data to the at least one of the plurality of clients via the transmit infrared path.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to, when the first communication path includes the receive infrared path:

receive formatted reception data via the receive infrared path, wherein the client module formats at least one of;

the select requests and inbound data based on the type of reception to produce the formatted reception data.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to:

interpret the select requests to produce the set of channel select commands; and

coordinate the mixing of the set of channels, formatting of the stream of channel data and transmitting the formatted channel data, such that a client of the plurality of clients receives appropriate requested data.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to:

store at least a portion of the stream of data on a hard drive.

51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to:

process client access privileges for each of the plurality of clients.

52. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to:

convert the stream of channel data into analog signals, wherein the analog signals are transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of clients.

53. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the memory further comprises operation instructions that cause the processing module to:

encode the stream of data prior to transmitting the stream of channel data, wherein the encoding of the stream of data is based on at least one of;

multilevel encoding;

non return to zero (NRZ) encoding;

Manchester encoding;

block encoding; and

nB/mB encoding, where n<

m.