Audio program reception terminal for television delivery system
First Claim
1. A hardware upgrade operably connected to a set top terminal the hardware upgrade comprising:
- an interface to the set top terminal through which a subscriber selection and digital audio signals that represent audio programs are received from the set top terminal, wherein the set top terminal comprises a first tuner coupled to a receiver that receives television program signals and the digital audio signals from a television program delivery system;
audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program in the received digital audio signals based on the received subscriber selection; and
an output, connected to the processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber selection.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to apparatus and methods for upgrading a set top terminal for use with a cable television program delivery system. A hardware upgrade or expansion card is connected to a set top terminal to enhance the functionality of the set top terminal and to allow the set top terminal to receive digital audio programs. The hardware upgrade includes audio signal processing circuitry such as a tuner, demodulator, demultiplexor, decryptor, and decompressor. A microprocessor in the hardware upgrade enables the upgrade to accept subscriber inputs so as to select a particular digital audio program for listening. Subscriber inputs may be generated from a remote control and a menu system of the set top terminal.
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Citations
111 Claims
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1. A hardware upgrade operably connected to a set top terminal the hardware upgrade comprising:
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an interface to the set top terminal through which a subscriber selection and digital audio signals that represent audio programs are received from the set top terminal, wherein the set top terminal comprises a first tuner coupled to a receiver that receives television program signals and the digital audio signals from a television program delivery system; audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program in the received digital audio signals based on the received subscriber selection; and an output, connected to the processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A set top terminal comprising:
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a first tuner coupled to a receiver adapted to receive television program signals and digital audio signals from a television program delivery system, wherein the digital audio signals represent audio programs; a subscriber interface adapted to receive subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; and a first hardware upgrade operably connected to the set top terminal, comprising; an interface to the set top terminal through which the digital audio signals and the subscriber audio program selection are received from the set top terminal; an audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program in the received digital audio signals based on the received subscriber audio program selection; and an output, connected to the audio processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for delivery and reception of audio programs, the system comprising:
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a television program delivery system adapted to deliver television program signals and digital audio signals, wherein the digital audio signals represent the audio programs; and a set top terminal operably connected to the television program delivery system, the set top terminal comprising; a first tuner coupled to a receiver adapted to receive the television program signals and the digital audio signals from the television program delivery system; a subscriber interface adapted to receive subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; and a hardware upgrade operably connected to the set top terminal, comprising; an interface to the set top terminal through which the digital audio signals and the subscriber audio program selection are received from the set top terminal; an audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program in the received digital audio signals based on the received subscriber audio program selection; and an output, connected to the audio processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus capable of receiving audio/visual programs and audio programs, an audio/visual program being represented by an audio signal accompanied by a corresponding video signal, and an audio program being represented by a digital audio signal only, the apparatus comprising:
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a first tuner coupled to a receiver adapted to receive the audio/visual programs and the audio programs from a television program delivery system; a subscriber interface adapted to receive subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; and a hardware upgrade operably connected to a set top terminal, comprising; an interface to the set top terminal through which the digital audio signals and the subscriber audio program selection are received from the set top terminal; an audio processing circuitry, connected to the receiver, that processes the digital audio signals representing the audio programs, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program based on the received subscriber audio program selection; and an output, connected to the audio processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. An apparatus capable of receiving audio/visual programs and audio programs, an audio/visual program being represented by an audio signal accompanied by a corresponding video signal, and an audio program being represented by a digital audio signal only, the apparatus comprising:
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means for tuning to and receiving the audio/visual programs and the audio programs from a television program delivery system; means for receiving subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; means, connected to the means for receiving the audio/visual programs and the audio programs, for processing the digital audio signals representing the audio programs, wherein the means for processing comprises a second means for tuning to a selected audio program; and means, connected to the means for processing, for outputting a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A cable television set top terminal comprising:
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a first tuner coupled to a receiver that receives television program signals and digital audio signals from a television program delivery system; a first hardware upgrade connected to the set top terminal, wherein the first hardware upgrade is capable of receiving the digital audio signals and subscriber audio program selections from the set top terminal, wherein the first hardware upgrade further comprises; audio processing circuitry, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected digital audio signal; and one or more additional hardware upgrades connected to the set top terminal. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86)
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87. A system for delivery and reception of audio programs, the system comprising:
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a television program delivery system adapted to deliver television program signals, including HDTV audio visual signals, and digital audio signals, wherein the digital audio signals represent the audio programs; and a set top terminal operably connected to the television program delivery system, the set top terminal comprising; a first tuner coupled to a receiver adapted to receive the television program signals and the digital audio signals from the television program delivery system; a subscriber interlace adapted to receive subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; and a hardware upgrade operably connected to the set top terminal, comprising; an interface to the set top terminal through which the digital audio signals and the subscriber audio program selection are received from the set top terminal; an audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program in the received digital audio signals based on the received subscriber audio program selection; and an output, connected to the audio processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. An apparatus capable of receiving audio/visual programs, including HDTV programs, and audio programs, an audio/visual program being represented by an audio signal accompanied by a corresponding video signal, and an audio program being represented by a digital audio signal only, the apparatus comprising:
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a first tuner coupled to a receiver adapted to receive the audio/visual programs and the audio programs from a television program delivery system; a subscriber interface adapted to receive subscriber inputs including a subscriber audio program selection; and a hardware upgrade operably connected to the apparatus, comprising; an interface to the apparatus through which the digital audio signals and the subscriber audio program selection are received from the apparatus; an audio processing circuitry, connected to the receiver, that processes the digital audio signals representing the audio programs, wherein the audio processing circuitry comprises a second tuner that tunes to a selected audio program based on the received subscriber audio program selection; and an output, connected to the audio processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal that represents the selected audio program based on the subscriber audio program selection. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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110. A hardware upgrade for a set top terminal comprising a first tuner coupled to a receiver for receiving a digital audio signal, the hardware upgrade remotely located from the set top terminal, the hardware upgrade comprising:
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an interface to the set top terminal through which a subscriber selection and digital audio signals that represent audio programs are received from the set top terminal, wherein the digital audio signals are received from a television program delivery system, wherein the television program delivery system is capable of simultaneously transmitting video signals that are unrelated to the digital audio signals; audio processing circuitry, connected to the interface, that processes the digital audio signals, wherein the processing circuitry comprises a second tuner capable of selecting an audio program and allows access to the digital audio signals while the unrelated video signals are viewed on a television; and an output, connected to the processing circuitry, that outputs a selected audio signal based on the subscriber selection. - View Dependent Claims (111)
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Specification