Hardware module for adding functionality to television using mechanical and wireless links

• US 7,992,184 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Doumuki, Tohru
• Primary Examiner(s): Salce; Jason P
• Application Number:
  US11/856,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 725131-133, 725139-141, 725151-153, 725/78, 725 80- 82, 725/85, 725 37- 38, 725/59, 725/120, 348/836, 348838-839, 348/843, 348731-732, 348/734, 348/555, 348/558
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A set-box (SBB) is advanced into a receptacle on the rear of a TV to add functionality to the TV. Digital video information is conveyed from the SBB to the TV using respective HDMI connectors on the SBB and TV that mechanically engage each other, whereas bi-directional control information is passed wirelessly between the SBB and TV.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a TV defining a monitor, a rear opposed to the monitor, and a receptacle formed in the rear of the monitor, the TV having a digital video connector, the TV also including a wireless transceiver; and

a module housing for holding components facilitating audio-video functionality and disposable in the receptacle, the module housing including a digital video connector that mechanically engages the connector of the TV when the housing is moved into the receptacle, the module housing also supporting a wireless bidirectional transceiver configured for wirelessly communicating with the wireless transceiver of the TV.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital video connectors are HDMI connectors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the HDMI connector of the module housing is rigidly supported by the housing and the HDMI connector of the TV is disposed in the receptacle, the HDMI connectors mechanically engaging each other when the module is advanced into the receptacle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the HDMI connector of the module housing is connected by an electrical cord to the housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the functionality is video decoding functionality provided by the module but not by the TV.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceivers exchange device discovery communication.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceivers exchange metadata exchange.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceivers are optical wireless transceivers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceivers are radiofrequency transceivers.