AU2001100660A4 - Multi-function receiver and transmitter - Google Patents

Description

18442 'O1, TUE 17:16 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1A3FITH HACK [a 003 61 2 9957 3582

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT APPUiCant~: ROBERT JOHN MILLAND Invention Title:2 MULTI-FUNCTION RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER The following statemnent is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to Me/us.

RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16FR TTIE 9.DC 10 9 FRINT TIME 19,DEC, 10:19 18Z12 TUE 17:17 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1A'FITH HACK 61 29957 3582 -2- MrULTI-FUNCTION RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-function receiver and transmitter system for use in homne entertainment Background of the Invention With a proliferation of new broadcast methods such as cable television, satellite television, and broadcasting and datacasting over computing networks such as the Internet, there is an increasing need by content providers such as cable TV service providers to provide what is colloquially termed a "set top box" which allows an information signal, such as a cable TV signal, to be decoded and correctly displayed on a traditional television set or other suitable video display unitmoreover, with the introduction of new television broadcast formats, such as high definition digital television and standard definition digital television, there has also been a need for "translator boxes" for users who do not wish to upgrade to a new video display unit, capable of descrarnbling digital television broadcast signals. Similarly, advances in audio reproduction capabilities and methods, such as the development of Dolb YT' digital audio, has led to the need for a separate device to reproduce DolbyTm digital sound.

Furthermore, there has been a rapid growth in Internet usage. However, many consumers do not have the necessary computing skills to adequately set up a computing system and gain access to the Internet.

Therefore, the past few years has seen the development of "TV Internetff boxes, which are essentially cut down computing systems designed to interface with a standard television set, and provide a user friendly interface that [aj 004 RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16PI\T T E 19DC. i:9 PRINT TIME 19,DEC, 10:19 18/12 '01, TUE 17:17 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1AFITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 -3allows users who have only a limited knowledge of technology to access the Internet with a minimum of fuss- However, for the average user, the proliferation of set top boxes has become unwieldy and difficult to manage, as well as being unsightly and costly.

Summary of the Invention in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multifunction receiver and transmitter comprising at least one input capable of accepting data signals, a processing circuit arranged to convert the data signal to an output signal capable of being displayed on a media device, wherein the multifunction receiver and transmitter is capable of being arranged to accept any number and/or type of data signal, and is capable of being arranged to provide any type and/or number of output signals- This provides several advantages.

Firstly, a multifunction receiver and transmitter allows a user to accept broadcast audio and visual signals from any suitable medium. For example, the present invention may be arranged to receive digital signals from cable, terrestrial, satellite, and/or microwave devices.

Secondly, the receiver and transmitter are arranged to provide correctly decoded signals to a large number of devices. For example, the receiver and transmitter includes an output to standard analogue television, an output to standard definition and high definition digital television, and an output to computer industry standard VGA monitors.

Traditionally, each cable TV provider would provide the user with a proprietary set top box to allow the user to descra-mble the cable TV signal, and possibly to audit the user's use of the cable TV service.

With the present invention, the user would be able to, via software or any other appropriate means, "update" [a 005 RECEIVED TIME 18, DEC. 17:16 FITTM 9 E.i:1 P R I N T ITIME 19, DEC. 10:19 181/12 '01 TUE 17:17 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR14-'FITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 -4the receiver and transmitter to receive and successfully descrainbie new and/or different providers broadcast signal.

Preferably, the system is capable of transmitting other data signals. This provides several advantages to both a user of the system and a third party operator that provides the broadcast signal. For example, the user may wish to access interactive broadcast signals, such as "on demand" videos, where a user is capable of selecting a desired film or program at any time, without relying on scheduling constraints imposed by traditional broadcast media.

In another example, the user may wish to interact with a web server on the Internet or any other suitable information network, where it is necessary to "request" information by first sending an appropriate data packet.

In yet another example, a broadcast signal operator, such as a pay TV provider, may require an authentication signal to be sent from a user's multi-function receiver and transmitter, to verify that the user is authorised to access the network and/or particular content (such as particular channels).

Preferably, the system is capable of transmitting the other data signals to another multi-function transmitter and receiver.

In addition to communicating with a content or service provider, a user may wish to directly interact with other users. For example, a user may wish to use the multi-function receiver and transmitter for video telephony. With the addition of a digital camera and a suitable microphone and speakers, the multi-function transmitter and receiver allows a user to converse with other users.

Preferably, the processing circuit may be remotely adapted to decode different of the data signals.

Where there are many competing content providers, it may be useful to provide a remote method of updating the ZI006 RECEIVED TIME 18-DIC, 17:16 PRINT TIME 19.DEC, 10:19 R~C~IV~D TIME 18. DEC. 17:16 PR~T TIME 19. EEC. 1Q: 19 18412 '01, TUE 17:18 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1FITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 5 software and/or firmware of a multi-function receiver and transmitter, to allow a user access to the content from that provider. In the prior art, it was necessary for a content provider, such as a pay TV operator, to provide a different and separate "set top box" to allow a user to access their content. The multi-function receiver and transmitter is arranged to allow a content provider to send via cable, satellite, or any other suitable means, a software update, a decryption key, or any other suitable software device required to allow a user access to content from the content provider.

Preferably, the processing circuit may be adapted by a user to decode different of the data signals.

In some circumstances, it may be easier or more convenient for a user to be provided with a software update, such as a disk or a CD containing appropriate software to allow a user to access new types of content, or content from different content providers.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a multi-function receiver and transmitter system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Present Invention The present invention broadly relates to a system that enables a user to access multiple broadcast signal types using a single multi-function receiver and transmitter system.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to figure 1. In figure 1, there 2007 RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16 PRINT TIME 19, DEC, 10:19 18/12 '01 TUE 17:18 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1&VFITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 -6is shown a block diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In figure 1, there is shown a receiver and transmitter system, incorporating a number of input ports operatively coupled to a processing circuit, which is arranged to provide output signals to a number of media devices. The processing circuit comprises in part, a central processing unit 1, which is arranged to be interfaced with various peripheral devices. It will be understood that any suitable central processing unit may be used, such as an Intel Pent ium

TM

processor or an ST7000 processor, or any other suitable processor. Such variations are within the scope of a person skilled in the art.

The CPU 1 is connected to several peripherals necessary for the adequate operation of the system. For example, the CPU 1 is connected to a suitable memory device 2 such as SDRAM or a FLASH memory device. Any suitable memory may be used. other processors, demultiplexers and encoders are also provided with volatile or semi-permanent memory space as required. The provision of such peripheral devices are not limiting and modifications to the type, speed or other characteristics of the memory banks are within the scope of a person skilled in the art.

The CPU is also connected to a demultiplexer processor 3, which is arranged to act as an interface between the system CPU and the network interface unit 4.

The demultiplexer takes as an input the raw signal provided from one or more of the input ports at the network interface unit 4, and descraxnbles or "converts"l the signal as necessary, so that it may be passed to the system CPU 1 if further processing is required, or alternatively, it may be passed directly to the Audio decoder 5 and/or the video decoder 6. The network interface unit 4 is arranged to accept any suitable broadcast signal. in the present embodiment, this includes a number of proprietary and/or public standards, Z~008 RECEIVED TIME 18, DEC. 17:16 FITTM 9 E.1:1 FRINT TIME 19,DEC. 10:19 18. '12 '0O1 TUE 17:18 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GRiATITH HACK 61 2 9957 35"82 -7such as the QAM data transport standard for cable data reception, the QPSK arnd CEDM standards, which are commonly used data transport for satellite data reception, and the COFDM standard, which is a data transport standard commonly used for microwave reception. Whilst there are a number of pre-defined standards illustrated in an embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that the inclusion of these standards are not limiting, and the modification of the multi-function transmitter and receiver to include other standards, as required by third party content providers, and/or local laws and regulations, is within the scope of the present invention.

once the signal is descrainbled using demultiplexer 3, it may be sent to the system CPUJ 1 for further processing if necessary before being returned to the demultiplexers 3.

once the signal is descrambled and uncompressed by either the demultiplexer 3 and/or a combination of the demultiplexer 3 and the CPUJ 1, the respective audio component and video component of the signal is forwarded to an audio decoder 5 and a video decoder 6. These two decoder chips are arranged to perform any further decoding as necessary. For example, if the audio and/or video signals are sent in an MPEG compressed format, then the signal will need to be further decompressed using a suitable algorithm. In another example, the audio signal may contain encoded Dolb ym Digital Audio information, which will be decoded by the audio decoder Once the audio signal has been converted and decompressed to a suitable format, it is then passed through a digital to analogue converter 7, so that it may be sent to a set of audio speakers 8. it will be understood that the ability of the audio decoder to decode other encoding and/or compression formats not explicitly mentioned within this document is within the scope of the present invention.

The video portion of the signal is passed to a video Z00O9 RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16PITTME 1. C 1 9 PRINT TIME 19.DEC. 10:19 18/12 '01 TUE 17:18 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1PFITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 8 decoder 6 with an on screen display feature. The video decoder 6 is also arranged to decode any coded signal received from the demultiplexer 3. Once the video signal has been decoded, it is then passed to either a digital encoder 9, which is arranged to output a video signal in a Standard Definition Digital format, as required by local laws and/or standards. It is to be understood that the output signal may be provided in any suitable signal format, such as the NTSC format used in the United States, the PAL format used in Australia and parts of Europe and Asia, or the SECAM format, used in parts of Europe. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide a signal in any suitable format.

There is also provided a graphics controller which is arranged to provide High Definition Video Signals for specialised applications. This may include, but is not limited to, anti-flicker and anti-flutter filters, smooth video scaling, higher resolution on screen displays, so called "graphics acceleration", to support high frame rates or high data throughput, and high quality still images. For example, the present invention may be used to access the Internet, and provide a personal computer-like interface to facilitate "surfing the web" in which case high resolution graphics capabilities are necessary.

As an embodiment of the multi-function transmitter and receiver is arranged to be capable of sending as well as receiving information, there is provided a PCI bus arranged to provide an interface to peripherals 12.

Peripherals 12 may include a data storage facility, such as a hard disk drive, or other form of non-volatile memory, an ethernet and/or modem connection, allowing a user to send data, or a digital camera, which also allows a user to send data to other network users. The PCI bus may also allow the addition of several peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse, an RDA interface to allow the use of "remote controls", or any other suitable or desirable 010 RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16 PRINT TIME 1 9, DEC, 10:19 18/12 'Oj TUE 17:19 FAX 61 2 9957 3582 GR1IFITH HACK 61 2 9957 3582 -9peripheral device.

It will be understood that the addition of further peripherals other types of storage devices, or other user input devices) are within the scope of the present invention.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

1oi1 RECEIVED TIME 18, DEC, 17:16 PRINT TIME 19. DEC, 10:19

Claims (4)

1. A multi-function receiver and transmitter system comprising: at least one input port capable of accepting data signals, a processing circuit arranged to convert the data signal to an output signal capable of being displayed on a media device, wherein said system is capable of receiving any number and/or type of the data signals, and is capable of providing any type and/or number of the output signals.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is capable of transmitting other data signals.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system is capable of transmitting the other data signals to another multi-function transmitter and receiver system.

4. A system in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the processing circuit may be remotely adapted to decode different of the data signals. A system in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein the processing circuit may be adapted by a user to decode different of the data signals. Dated this 18th day of December 2001 ROBERT MILLAND By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK @012 RECEIVED TIME 18. DEC. 17:16 PRINT TIME 19, DEC, 10:19