Method and system for a transcoder

• US 8,321,906 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ansari, Ahmad C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG, JASON
• Application Number:
  US12/209,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• 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 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a transcoder module having a controller to manage power distribution in the transcoder module from power supplied to an HDMI port of the transcoder module, transcode audio-visual information into a digital compatible format used on an external device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transcoding audio-visual information supplied by a television in a high definition multimedia interface standard format received via an high definition multimedia interface port in a portable set top box device to a first format compatible with a first external device, wherein the first format compatible with the first external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

storing the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information in a memory of the portable set top box device;

generating a first transcoded signal from the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the first external device;

determining if the first external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device;

trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the first external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the first transcoded signal to the first external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the first external device via a network interface in the portable set top box;

transcoding the audio-visual information to a second format compatible with a second external device;

storing the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory of the portable set top box;

generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the second external device, wherein the second format compatible with the second external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

determining if the second external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device;

trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the second external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the second transcoded signal to the second external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the second external device via the network interface in the portable set top box; and

enabling the portable set top box to be utilized as an end user device for voice communications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network interface enables wireless and wireline communications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second external device is a personal digital assistant, a portable video player, a personal computer, a laptop computer, or a storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second external device is a presentation device and further comprising:

coupling the portable set top box with a power outlet; and

receiving data at the portable set top box via the power outlet.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving a signal source for transcoding via the high definition multimedia interface port which is an high definition multimedia interface connector.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising storing audio-visual content in a digital video recorder hard drive within the set top box device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

transcoding audio-visual information supplied by a television in a high definition multimedia interface standard format received via an high definition multimedia interface port in a portable set top box device to a first format compatible with a first external device, wherein the first format compatible with the first external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

storing the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information in a memory of the portable set top box device;

generating a first transcoded signal from the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the first external device;

determining if the first external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device;

trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the first external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the first transcoded signal to the first external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the first external device via a network interface in the portable set top box;

transcoding the audio-visual information to a second format compatible with a second external device;

storing the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory of the portable set top box;

generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the second external device, wherein the second format compatible with the second external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

determining if the second external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device;

trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the second external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the second transcoded signal to the second external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the second external device via the network interface in the portable set top box; and

enabling the portable set top box to be utilized as an end user device for voice communications.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, comprising computer instructions for:

enabling the portable battery operated set top box device to be at least partially powered through the high definition multimedia interface port when coupled to the high definition multimedia interface compatible source device through the high definition multimedia interface port.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, comprising computer instructions for enabling the portable battery operated set top box to receive data via a power outlet when the portable battery operated set top box is coupled with the power outlet, wherein the high definition multimedia interface compatible source device is a high definition set top box or a digital video recorder having an high definition multimedia interface output.

10. A system, comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions;

a rechargeable battery; and

a portable controller device integrally formed with and coupled to the memory and the rechargeable battery, wherein the controller device, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising;

transcoding audio-visual information supplied by a television in a high definition multimedia interface standard format received via an high definition multimedia interface port of the portable controller device to a first format compatible with a first external device, wherein the first format compatible with the first external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

storing the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory;

generating a first transcoded signal from the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the first external device;

determining if the first external device has a capacity to trickle charge the rechargeable battery;

trickle charging the rechargeable battery using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the first external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the first transcoded signal to the first external device when the portable controller device is coupled with the first external device via a network interface in the portable controller device;

transcoding the audio-visual information to a second format compatible with a second external device;

storing the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory;

generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the second external device, wherein the second format compatible with the second external device is user selectable or determined dynamically;

determining if the second external device has a capacity to trickle charge the rechargeable battery;

trickle charging the rechargeable battery using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the second external device has the capacity to trickle charge;

providing the second transcoded signal to the second external device when the portable controller device is coupled with the second external device via the network interface; and

enabling the portable controller device to be utilized as an end user device for voice communications.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable controller device enables voice communications with other communication devices, and wherein the portable controller device is operable to enable receiving data via a power outlet when the portable controller device is coupled with the power outlet.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a system on chip video and audio transcoder.