Multi-tuner device integration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method executable by a primary television receiver device, the method comprising:
- receiving a registration message via a first data connection from a secondary television receiver device by the primary television receiver device, wherein the registration message describes at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device;
in response to the registration message, the primary television receiver device adding the at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device to a list of available television tuners, wherein the list of available television tuners also comprises television tuners that are available from the primary television receiver device;
in response to a subsequent request for a television tuner received by the primary television receiver device, the primary television receiver device allocating the at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device to service the request by receiving a television broadcast via a second data connection between the secondary television receiver device and an outdoor unit that is separate from the first data connection; and
subsequently receiving, by the primary television receiver device via the first data connection, a request to perform a trick play feature on the television broadcast, and, responsive to the request, accepting a hand off of decoding from secondary television receiver device to the primary television receiver to thereby obtain the television broadcast at the primary television receiver via a third data connection between the primary television receiver and the outdoor unit for decoding of the television broadcast and processing of the trick play feature requested by the viewer by the primary television receiver and transmission of the decoded television broadcast to the secondary television receiver via the first data connection, wherein the handing off comprises the primary television receiver receiving timing information about the video stream from the secondary television receiver device to thereby maintain consistent timing of the video stream as the decoding of the video stream is handed off from the secondary television receiver device to the primary television receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A secondary television receiver device includes one or more television tuners that can be integrated into a whole-home television receiving system. The secondary device that is enhanced with tuner capability registers the tuners with a primary receiver, which allocates tuners from available sources as needed. The tuned video stream may be directed to the primary television receiver for storage, trick play or other features prior to re-transmission to the ultimate viewing device. Alternatively, the received video stream may be directly rendered to a video display attached to the enhanced secondary receiver.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method executable by a primary television receiver device, the method comprising:
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receiving a registration message via a first data connection from a secondary television receiver device by the primary television receiver device, wherein the registration message describes at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device; in response to the registration message, the primary television receiver device adding the at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device to a list of available television tuners, wherein the list of available television tuners also comprises television tuners that are available from the primary television receiver device; in response to a subsequent request for a television tuner received by the primary television receiver device, the primary television receiver device allocating the at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device to service the request by receiving a television broadcast via a second data connection between the secondary television receiver device and an outdoor unit that is separate from the first data connection; and subsequently receiving, by the primary television receiver device via the first data connection, a request to perform a trick play feature on the television broadcast, and, responsive to the request, accepting a hand off of decoding from secondary television receiver device to the primary television receiver to thereby obtain the television broadcast at the primary television receiver via a third data connection between the primary television receiver and the outdoor unit for decoding of the television broadcast and processing of the trick play feature requested by the viewer by the primary television receiver and transmission of the decoded television broadcast to the secondary television receiver via the first data connection, wherein the handing off comprises the primary television receiver receiving timing information about the video stream from the secondary television receiver device to thereby maintain consistent timing of the video stream as the decoding of the video stream is handed off from the secondary television receiver device to the primary television receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method executable by a secondary television receiver device, the method comprising:
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transmitting a registration message from the secondary television receiver device to a primary television receiver via a first data connection, wherein the registration message describes at least one television tuner available from the secondary television receiver device; receiving a subsequent request from the primary television receiver via the first data connection to allocate the at least one television tuner of the secondary television receiver to receive a television broadcast; receiving, in response to the subsequent request received from the primary television receiver, the television broadcast via a second data connection to an outdoor unit for decoding of the television broadcast by the at least one television tuner of the secondary television receiver device, wherein the second data connection is separate from the first data connection; providing a video stream of the television broadcast decoded by the television tuner of the secondary television receiver for presentation of the television program to a viewer of a television connected to the secondary television receiver; subsequently receiving, by the secondary television receiver, a request from the viewer for a trick play feature, and, responsive to the request, handing off decoding of the video stream from the secondary television receiver device to the primary television receiver for processing of the trick play feature requested by the viewer, wherein the handing off comprises transmitting timing information about the video stream during processing of the trick play feature to thereby maintain consistent timing of the video stream as the video stream is handed off from the secondary television receiver to the primary television receiver; subsequently receiving the decoded television program from the primary television receiver via the first data connection; and subsequently providing the decoded television program for presentation to the viewer on the television connected to the secondary television receiver. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A television receiver device comprising:
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at least one television tuner; a cable interface to a first coaxial cable and a second coaxial cable; a display interface to a local display; and a processor configured to; transmit a registration message to a primary television receiver via the first coaxial cable, wherein the registration message describes the at least one television tuner; receive a subsequent request from the primary television receiver via the first coaxial cable to allocate the at least one television tuner to receive a television broadcast; control, in response to the subsequent request received from the primary television receiver, the at least one television tuner to receive the television broadcast from an outdoor unit via the second coaxial cable and to decode the television broadcast; and provide a video stream of the decoded television broadcast for presentation of the television program to a viewer, wherein the video stream is initially rendered for presentation until a trick play feature is requested by the viewer, and wherein the television receiver device responds to the viewer requesting the trick play feature by handing off the decoding of the television broadcast to the primary television receiver so that the primary television receiver receives the television broadcast from the outdoor unit instead of the television receiver device, and wherein the television receiver device subsequently receives the decoded video stream via the first coaxial cable from the primary television receiver rather than the second coaxial cable from the outdoor unit, and wherein the handing off comprises transmitting timing information from the television receiver device to the primary television receiver via the first coaxial cable to thereby maintain consistent timing of the video stream as the decoding of the video stream is handed off from the television receiver device to the primary television receiver device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification