PC media center and extension device for a home entertainment system

• US 8,601,514 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kellum, John M., Broadus, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): IDOWU, OLUGBENGA O
• Application Number:
  US10/259,200
• Time in Patent Office: 4,085 Days
• Field of Search: 725/54, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82, 725/85, 725/89, 725/90, 725/91, 725/98, 725/100, 725/103, 725/110, 725/112, 725/114, 725/120, 725/127, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/149, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57

Abstract

Within a media center extension device, a first media signal is received from a media source and encoded into a first media stream, which is sent via a network to a personal computer media center. Within the personal computer media center, the first media stream is stored within a storage device, such as a hard disk drive. Also within the personal computer media center, a second media stream is retrieved from the storage device, which is sent via the network to the media center extension device. Within the media center extension device, the second media stream is decoded into a second media signal, which is rendered for display on a display device.

Claims

1. A media center extension device, wherein the media center extension device is connected to a set top box, a personal computer media center, a remote control device, and a display device, and wherein the media center extension device is to receive a first media signal directly from the set top box having a tuner used to tune to the first media signal, the media center extension device comprising:

an input to receive the first media signal tuned to by the set top box directly from the set top box;

an encoder within the media center extension device coupled to the input of the media center extension to encode the first media signal received directly from and tuned to by the set top box into a first media stream;

a network interface coupled to the encoder to send the first media stream via a home network from the media center extension to the personal computer media center;

a decoder coupled to the network interface to decode a second media stream into a second media signal, the second media stream being received via the home network from the personal computer media center on the network interface; and

a display interface to render the second media signal on the display device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second media stream originated from the first media stream.

3. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising:

a tuning controller to instruct the set top box to tune to the first media signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the tuning controller comprises a remote control simulator.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the tuning controller comprises a serial connection between the media center extension device and the set top box.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless receiver to receive user commands from the remote control device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the network interface is to relay at least one user command to the personal computer media center.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a conditional access device to decrypt media signals.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the set top box includes a conditional access device to decrypt media signals.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the display interface is to render a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display device using graphical commands received from the personal computer media center through the home network.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a storage device to store the encoded media streams received through the home network.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a personal video recording (PVR) module to selectively record media streams received through the home network, and wherein the network interface is to receive a recorded media stream from the personal computer media center for the display interface to render.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a media editing module to selectively edit media streams received through the home network, and wherein the network interface is to receive an edited media stream from the personal computer media center for the display interface to render.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a web browser coupled to an Internet connection to receive web content, and wherein the network interface of the media center extension device is to receive graphical commands from the personal computer media center that the display interface uses to render the web content.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the media center extension device is to boot from an operating system stored within the personal computer media center and received through the network interface.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the media stream comprises an MPEG stream.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the home network is one of an Ethernet and a wireless network.

18. A method comprising:

tuning to a first media signal from a media source using a tuner at a set top box;

transmitting the first media signal directly from the set top box to a media center extension device, wherein the media center extension device is connected to a set top box, a personal computer media center, a remote control, and a display device;

encoding the first media signal received directly from and tuned to by the set top box into a first media stream at the media center extension device;

sending the first media stream via a home network from the media center extension device to the personal computer media center;

receiving a second media stream from the personal computer media center at the media center extension device via the home network;

decoding the second media stream into a second media signal at the media center extension device; and

providing the second media signal from the media center extension device for display and rendering on the display device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second media stream originated from the first media stream.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

instructing the set top box to tune to the first media signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein instructing comprises simulating the remote control device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein instructing comprises transmitting control signals from the media center extension device to the set top box using a serial connection.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving user commands from the remote control device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

relaying at least one user command to the personal computer media center.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

decrypting media signals using a conditional access device within the media center extension device.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

decrypting the first media signal using a conditional access device at the set top box.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

rendering a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display device using graphical commands received from the personal computer media center through the home network.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the encoded media streams received through the home network in a storage device of the personal computer media center.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein a personal video recording (PVR) module of the personal computer media center selectively records media streams received through the home network, the method further comprising:

receiving a recorded media stream from the personal computer media center for rendering on the display device.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein a media editing module of the personal computer media center selectively edits media streams received through the home network, the method further comprising:

receiving an edited media stream from the personal computer media center for rendering on the display device.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein a web browser of the personal computer media center is coupled to an Internet connection to receive web content, the method further comprising:

receiving graphical commands from the personal computer media center for rendering the web content on the display device.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

booting from an operating system stored within the personal computer media center and received through the home network.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the media source comprises one of a cable television network and a direct satellite broadcast (DBS) network.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein encoding the first media signal into a first media stream comprises encoding the first media signal into an MPEG stream.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein sending the first media stream via a home network comprises sending the first media stream via one of an Ethernet and a wireless network.

36. An entertainment system comprising:

a personal computer media center comprising;

a network interface to send and receive media streams through a home network; and

a storage device to store media streams;

a set top box comprising a tuner to tune to a first media signal from a media source; and

a media center extension device lacking a tuner, wherein the media center extension device is connected to a set top box, the personal computer media center, a remote control, and a display device, and wherein the media center extension device comprises;

an input to receive the first media signal directly from the set top box;

an encoder within the media center extension device coupled to the input of the media center extension device to encode the first media signal received directly from and tuned to by the set top box into a first media stream;

a network interface coupled to the encoder to send the first media stream via a home network from the media center extension to the personal computer media center;

a decoder coupled to the network interface to decode a second media stream into a second media signal, the second media stream having been received from the network interface; and

a display interface to render the second media signal on the display device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the second media stream originated from the first media stream.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the media center extension device further comprises:

a tuning controller to instruct the set top box to tune to the first media signal.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the tuning controller comprises a remote control simulator.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the tuning controller comprises a serial connection between the media center extension device and the set top box.

41. The system of claim 36, wherein the media center extension device further comprises:

a wireless receiver to receive user commands from the remote control device.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the network interface of the media center extension device is to relay at least one user command to the personal computer media center.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the media center extension device further comprises:

a conditional access device to decrypt media signals.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein the set top box comprises a conditional access device to decrypt media signals.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the display interface is to receive graphical commands from the personal computer media center through the home network to render a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display device.

46. The system of claim 36, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a storage device to store the encoded media streams received through the home network.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a personal video recording (PVR) module to selectively record media streams received through the home network, and wherein the network interface of the media center extension device is to receive a recorded media stream from the personal computer media center for the display interface to render.

48. The system of claim 36, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a media editing module to selectively edit media streams received through the home network, and wherein the network interface of the media center extension device is to receive an edited media stream from the personal computer media center for the display interface to render.

49. The system of claim 36, wherein the personal computer media center comprises a web browser coupled to an Internet connection to receive a web content, and wherein the network interface of the media center extension device is to receive graphical commands from the personal computer media center to render the web content by the display interface.

50. The system of claim 36, wherein the media center extension device is to boot from an operating system stored within the personal computer media center and received through the network interface.

51. The system of claim 36, wherein the media source is one of a cable television network and a direct satellite broadcast (DBS) network.

52. The system of claim 36, wherein the media stream comprises an MPEG stream.

53. An entertainment system comprising:

a personal computer media center comprising;

a network interface to send and receive media streams through a network; and

a storage device to store media streams; and

a plurality of media center extension devices coupled to the personal computer media center through the network, each media center extension device comprising;

an input to receive a first media signal from a media source;

an encoder coupled to the input to encode the first media signal into a first media stream;

a network interface coupled to the encoder to send the first media stream via a network to the personal computer media center;

a decoder coupled to the network interface to decode a second media stream into a second media signal, the second media stream being received via the network from the personal computer media center on the network interface; and

a display interface to render the second media signal on a display device, wherein each media center extension device is coupled to a separate display device.

54. A method for providing a home entertainment system comprising:

connecting a media center extension device to a set top box, a remote control, a display device, and to a personal computer media center using a home network;

using an encoder within the media center extension device, encoding a signal received by the media center extension device from the set top box into a stream of data, wherein the signal received by the media center extension device was tuned to using the set top box;

transporting the data stream from the media center extension device to the personal computer media center using the home network;

recording the data stream onto a storage medium in the personal computer media center;

reading the data stream from the storage medium in response to a first user request;

transporting the retrieved data stream via the home network to the media center extension device;

transforming the retrieved data stream back into a new signal; and

rendering the new signal for display on a display device coupled with the media center extension device.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

editing the recorded data stream prior to being retrieved in response to a second user request.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

relaying the first user request from the media center extension device to the personal computer media center.

57. A media center extension device, wherein the media center extension device is connected to a set top box, a personal computer media center, a remote control, and a display device, and wherein the media center extension device comprises:

means for receiving a first media signal tuned to by a set top box directly from the set top box;

means within the media center extension device for encoding the first media signal into a first media stream;

means for sending the first media stream via a home network from the media center extension device to a personal computer media center;

means for receiving a second media stream from the personal computer media center via the home network;

means for decoding the second media stream into a second media signal; and

means for rendering the second media signal for display on a display device.

58. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method within a media center extension device for displaying media signals, wherein the media center extension device is connected to a set top box, a personal computer media center, a remote control, and a display device, and wherein the method comprises:

receiving a first media signal directly from a set top box, wherein the first media signal was tuned to by the set top box;

encoding the first media signal using an encoder within the media center extension device into a first media stream;

sending the first media stream via a home network from the media center extension device to a personal computer media center;

receiving a second media stream from the personal computer media center via the home network;

decoding the second media stream into a second media signal; and

providing the second media signal for display on a display device.