WIRELESS AD HOC NETWORKING FOR SET TOP BOXES

• US 20100169937A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: POWERWAVE COGNITION, INC.
• Original Assignee: POWERWAVE COGNITION, INC.
• Inventors: Atwal, Peter, Schlicht, Ludger
• Application Number:
  US12/613,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169937A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/123 Evaluation of link metrics techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• 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 21/43615 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 21/43637 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

Enhancements are disclosed for wireless ad hoc networking tailored for set top box communications. Video selected with a set top box may be transmitted over a wireless network. Backchannel communication from a set top box may be communicated over a wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for operating a backhaul access point comprising:

observing one or more neighbor nodes in a wireless ad hoc network;

identifying a set top box attached to one of the one or more neighbor nodes;

receiving backchannel data from the set top box, the backchannel data including an Internet destination address; and

forwarding the backchannel data to an internetwork for routing to the Internet destination address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the backchannel data includes customer account information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the backchannel data travels across one or more of a group comprising cable internet service, digital subscriber line (DSL) service, and dial up internet connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the backchannel data travels to the backhaul access point through a second set top box.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the set top box opportunistically uses the wireless ad hoc network to communicate the backchannel data.

2. (canceled)

4-5. -5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A node in a wireless network comprising:

a radio for operating within the wireless network;

a backhaul access point connected to the radio;

a processor programmed to;

observe one or more neighbor nodes in the wireless network;

identify a set top box attached to one of the one or more neighbor nodes;

receive backchannel data from the set top box, the backchannel data including an Internet destination address; and

forward the backchannel data to an internetwork for routing to the Internet destination address.

12. The node of claim 10 wherein the backchannel data includes customer account information.

15. The node of claim 10 wherein the backchannel data travels across one or more of a group comprising cable internet service, digital subscriber line (DSL) service, and dial up internet connection.

16. The node of claim 10 wherein the backchannel data travels to the backhaul access point through a second set top box.

17. The node of claim 10 wherein the set top box opportunistically uses the wireless network to communicate the backchannel data.

11. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium that, when executed, operates a backhaul access point by performing the steps of:

observing one or more neighbor nodes in a wireless ad hoc network;

identifying a set top box attached to one of the one or more neighbor nodes;

receiving backchannel data from the set top box, the backchannel data including an Internet destination address; and

forwarding the backchannel data to an internetwork for routing to the Internet destination address.

21. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the backchannel data includes customer account information.

24. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the backchannel data travels across one or more of a group comprising cable internet service, digital subscriber line (DSL) service, and dial up internet connection.

25. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the backchannel data travels to the backhaul access point through a second set top box.

26. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein the set top box opportunistically uses the wireless ad hoc network to communicate the backchannel data.

20. (canceled)

22-23. -23. (canceled)

27-103. -103. (canceled)

104. A device comprising:

a satellite receiver configured to receive a unidirectional broadcast satellite signal from a satellite antenna and to decode at least one channel of video broadcast content from the unidirectional broadcast satellite signal based upon an authorization obtained over an Internet backchannel;

a wireless radio; and

signal processing circuitry configured to operate the wireless radio to;

discover an ad hoc network;

join the ad hoc network as a node; and

provide the Internet backchannel through the ad hoc network, whereby the authorization can be obtained.

105. The device of claim 104 wherein the signal processing circuitry is further configured to operate the node as one or more of a source and a destination of peer-to-peer traffic within the ad hoc network.

106. The device of claim 104 wherein the signal processing circuitry is configured to communicate over the ad hoc network to authorize the satellite receiver to decode the at least one channel of video broadcast content.

107. The device of claim 104 wherein the signal processing circuitry is further configured to deliver broadband Internet connectivity to a user from the ad hoc network.

108. The device of claim 104 wherein one or more of the satellite receiver, the wireless radio, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated into a set top box with a connector for delivering the at least one channel of video broadcast content to a television.

109-127. -127. (canceled)