Wireless set-top unit and related methods

• US 8,479,237 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Stark, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US12/977,225
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 725 63- 68, 725 80- 81
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed is a set-top box capable of delivering television, internet service, video phone service, video-on-demand, and other media services to a consumer. One portion of the set-top box interacts with a CDMA network for the purpose of receiving wireless internet, video-on-demand, videophone and other IP services. Another portion of the device is satellite-enabled. The satellite portion of the device enables the user to also receive satellite service. Because the set-top box works to receive satellite programming and wireless CDMA network communications, it is not terrestrially-bound. This means it is not bound to be included within a cable, telephone, or other wired circuit network.

Claims

1. A multiple network service system, comprising:

a satellite service component for receiving a satellite downlink signal;

a wireless IP component, comprising a wireless modem for sending and receiving a wireless signal via a wireless network, wherein the wireless signal is received from a transceiver tower via the wireless modem;

an Internet component;

a set-top box for receiving the satellite downlink signal, the wireless signal, and data from the Internet component;

a microcomputer for controlling the set-top box; and

a television networking arrangement for serving audio and video content via the set-top box.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless IP component enables interfacing between the microcomputer and an IP wireless service provider.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless IP component enables streaming of the audio and video content.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless IP component enables access to the Internet component.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless modem comprises an aircard.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing interface comprises a wireless networking card.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a junction device for combining multiple signals to be delivered to the television networking arrangement.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computing interface for interfacing external computer accessories with the microcomputer.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

real-time communication between a local user of the multiple network service system and a remote user of a second multiple network service system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the real-time communication comprises sharing the audio and video content between the local user and the remote user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the real-time communication comprises a video conferencing arrangement.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computing interface and the wireless modem comprise a singular wireless interface.

14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, facilitate a method of providing multiple network services, the method comprising:

receiving a downlink satellite signal into a set-top box system;

receiving a wireless IP signal from a transceiver tower into the set-top box system;

receiving data via an Internet connection into the set-top box system;

serving audio and video content from the downlink satellite signal, the wireless signal, and the Internet connection via the set-top box system; and

receiving a wireless IP signal from a user in a remote location into the set-top box system.

15. The media of claim 14, further comprising receiving a video communication into the set-top box system from a remote set-top box system.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the receiving a video communication comprises real-time communication between a first user of the set-top box system and a second user of the remote set-top box system.

17. The media of claim 14, further comprising transmitting video programming to a user device.

18. A method of providing multiple network services, comprising:

receiving a downlink satellite signal into a set-top box system comprising a set-top box;

receiving a wireless IP signal from a transceiver tower into the set-top box system;

receiving data via an Internet connection into the set-top box system;

serving audio and video content from the downlink satellite signal, the wireless signal, and the Internet connection via the set-top box system; and

receiving a wireless IP signal from a user in a remote location into the set-top box system.