NO20024401L - Method and apparatus for transmitting wireless signals over the media - Google Patents

Abstract

A private household gateway (RG) (200) for distributing video, data and telephony services to multiple devices within a private household is described. The RG (200) receives signals from a telecommunication network, converts the signals into formats compatible with the multiple devices, and transmits the correct signals to the correct devices. Wireless remote control devices associated with the remote television sets (TV) (199) transmit channel selection commands as wireless signals to the RG. (200). The wireless signals are received by a remote antenna packet (RAP) (900) which transmits the wireless signals over a cable. A remote antenna module (RAM) (920) receives the wireless signals and extracts the channel selection command.

Description

Advances in the field of telecommunications allow large amounts of digital information to be delivered to a private household. Digital telecommunications networks (core system), such as hybrid fiber coax (HFC), fiber-to-the-road (FTTC) and digital subscriber line (DSL) can provide both traditional telecommunications services such as plain old telephone service (POTS) as well as advanced services such as switched digital video (SDV) and high-speed data access. Devices located in the private home will be connected to the network by means of twisted pairs of wires that provide telephone services today, or by means of coaxial cable similar to that used by cable operators to deliver television services. Due to this breadth of services, it is likely that digital networks will be widely deployed. In a widespread deployment of digital networks, millions of homes will be connected to the digital network.

Because the bulk of new video services will be digital, and for the existing television sets (TV) are analog, there is a need for a device that converts the digital signals delivered by the network into analog signals that are compatible with existing TV. The currently available STBs can perform this function, but are expensive. Also, many homes have more than one TV, and will therefore need multiple STBs to receive and convert the digital signals at each location in the home. There is also a need for an interface subsystem for each device connected to the digital network. Examples would be a location interface device (PID) to extract the time division multiplexed information and generate a telephone signal, on an Ethemet bridge or router (EBR) to generate a signal compatible with a computer.

For the reasons mentioned before, there is a need for a centralized unit in the home that can provide: A central connectivity point to the digital network; digital-to-analog conversion; and support for communications with multiple locations within the home (eg telephone, computer, TV). A centrally located in-home device is usually referred to as a home gateway (RG).

Transmission of channel selection commands associated with remote television sets may encounter problems related to the distance to the RC and possible obstacles between them. There is thus a need for a method and a device to ensure that the RG receives the channel selection commands from remote television sets.

A number of connectors may be required as multiple devices are connected to this RG and will transmit signals to and from this RG. Thus, there is a need for a device that combines several devices and connections into a single device to simplify the installation of an RG.

The present invention describes a method and a device for transmitting wireless signals over a medium. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless signals are channel change commands received from a wireless remote control device. The wireless signals are then transmitted over a medium to a central processing device. In one embodiment, the central processing device is a device that communicates with a television network by sending channel change commands to the television network and that receives and relays programming in response thereto. In another embodiment, the central processing unit communicates with a telecommunications network and provides video, data, and telephone services. In a preferred embodiment, the central processing device is the private gateway (RG) manufactured by the present applicant, Next Level Communications (NLC) of Rohnert Park, California.

The RG in question is able to receive signals from a telecommunications network, to decode the signals and to transmit the decoded signals to several devices. In a preferred embodiment, the telecommunications network is a digital network and the signals include video signals, and may optionally also include telephone signals, computer signals and signals from other devices. In a preferred embodiment, the multiple devices include multiple television sets (TVs) and may possibly include telephones, computers, and other devices.

The RG in question is capable of being connected to TVs in close proximity as well as TVs that are far away. As the RG is the central point of communication for the TV, channel selection commands must be received by the RG. These include the channel selection commands from remote TVs. These remote TVs will use a wireless remote control to communicate with the RG.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the remote television sets use a UHF remote control device. The channel change commands are received by means of a Remote Antenna Pack (RAP) which receives the signal and modulates the signal over the medium, such as a coaxial cable, to the RG. The channel switching commands are extracted from the medium with a remote antenna module (RAM) and transferred from there to the RG.

According to one embodiment, the remote television sets use an IR remote control device. The channel switching commands are received by means of an optical receiver which converts the signals into pulse trains and transmits the pulse train to an RF transmitter. The RF transmitter transforms the pulse train into an RF signal which is modulated over the medium of the RG. The channel selection commands are extracted from the media with the RAM. According to an alternative embodiment, the optical receiver and the RF transmitter are integrated together in an optical conversion device.

According to one embodiment, communication between the RG and the TVs as well as communication between the RG and the telecommunications network will be transmitted over the same medium. As such, a media interface device is described to enable transmission of multiple television channels and telecommunications data over the same medium. This MID includes a divider, balun, diplexer and RAM. This MID can be used with either IR or UHF remote control devices. This MID reduces the amount of links required to perform these operations.

These and other features and purposes of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which should be read in light of the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the description, illustrate the embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

The accompanying drawings show:

Fig. 1 illustrating a hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) coax system,

Fig. 2 illustrates a fiber-to-roadside (FTTC) backbone system,

Fig. 3 illustrates an FTTC backbone system including a home gateway (RG) i

conformity with an embodiment,

Fig. 4 illustrates a digital subscriber line (DSL) backbone system including an RG i

conformity with an embodiment,

Fig. 5 illustrates an RG architecture in accordance with one embodiment,

Fig. 6 illustrates the application of this RG with the home in accordance with a

embodiment,

Fig. 7 illustrates the application of this RG with the home according to a

embodiment,

Fig. 8 illustrates an RG architecture in accordance with one embodiment,

Fig. 9 illustrates a schematic drawing of the RG configuration in Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 illustrates a schematic drawing for the remote antenna package (RAP) in accordance with a

embodiment,

Fig.l 1 illustrates a schematic drawing of the remote antenna module (RAM) in accordance with a

embodiment,

Fig. 12 illustrates the application of this RG with the home in accordance with a

embodiment,

Fig. 13 illustrates the components of an RF transmitter according to one embodiment, Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate a circuit diagram of the RF transmitter in accordance with an

embodiment,

Fig.15 illustrates the connections between the RG and various other components i

conformity with an embodiment,

Fig. 16 illustrates the components of a media interface device (MID) in accordance with

an embodiment, and

Fig. 17 illustrates the housing of the MID in accordance with one embodiment.

In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used to provide clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention should be limited by the specific terms that have been chosen, and it should be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that work in a similar way to achieve a similar purpose.

With general reference to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 to 17, the method and device of the present invention are described in the following.

Figure 1 illustrates a hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) digital network in which various devices within a home 190 are connected to a video network (VN) 408 or a data and voice network (DVN) 404. The devices in the home 190 may include a site interface device 196 which is connected to a telephone 194, a television set (TV) set-top box (STB) 198 which is connected to a TV 199, an Ethernet Bridge or Router (EBR) 191 which is connected to a computer 193, or other facilities.

The HFC network illustrated in Figure 1 operates by connecting a cable encoder unit (HE) 400 to the DVN 404 and the VN 408. The physical interface to the DVN 404 may be copper wire pairs carrying either DS-1 or DS- 3 signals. The physical interface to the VN 408 may be via a wide area network (WAN).

The cable HE 400 is connected to several optical-to-electrical (GVE) nodes 410 (only one is illustrated) with fiber optic cables 160. The O/E nodes 410 are located within the agglomerations served by the HFC network. Each O/E node 410 provides services for up to 500 homes within the given settlement. As such a large number of users are served by an O/E node 410, there is a need for amplifiers 420. The O/E node 410 is connected to the home 190 via the coaxial cable 170. The coaxial cable 170 is received by means of a splitter 177 within the home 190 so that internal coaxial cabling 171 can route the data transmitted to the various devices. Each device connected to the internal coaxial cable 171 will need an interface subsystem that can convert the appropriate format of the signals transmitted over the internal coaxial cable 171 to the service interface necessary for the devices (ie, telephone, television, computer or other devices ). In a preferred embodiment, the PID 196 extracts the time-division multiplexed information carried on the internal coaxial cable and generates a telephone signal compatible with the telephone 194. Similarly, the STB 198 converts digital video signals to analog signals compatible with the television 199. Likewise the EBR 191 generates a signal compatible with the computer 193.

Figure 2 illustrates a fiber-to-the-curb (FTTC) network in which various devices in the home 190 are connected to a public switched telecommunications network (PSTN) 100 or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network 110. The devices in the home 190 may include telephones 194 (with or without a PID 196), a TV 199 with an STB 198 and a computer 193 with an EBR 191.

The FTTC network illustrated in Figure 2 operates by connecting a host digital terminal (HDT) 130 to the PSTN 100 and the ATM network 110. A PSTN-HDT interface 103 is specified by the standards bodies, and is specified in the US by the Bellcore specifications TR- TSY-000008, TR-NWT-000057 or GR-NWT-000303, which are incorporated herein by reference. The HDT 130 can also receive special service signals from private or non-switched public networks. The physical interface of the PSTN 100 may be twisted pairs carrying DS-1 signals or optical fibers carrying optical carrier (OC)-3 optical signals.

An ATM network HDT interface 113 can be realized using an OC-3 or OC-12c optical interface that transports ATM cells. In a preferred embodiment, the HDT 130 has three OC-12c broadcast ports, which receive signals carrying ATM cells, and one OC-12c interactive port, which receives and transmits signals.

An element management system (EMS) 150 is connected to the HDT 130 and forms part of an element management layer (EML) which is used to adapt services and equipment on the FTTC network, in the central office where the HDT is located, out in the field or in the home 190. The EMS 150 is software-based and can be run on a personal computer, in which case it will support one HDT 130 and the associated digital equipment connected thereto, or can be run on a workstation to support multiple HDTs 130 and the associated digital network equipment.

Optical network units (ONUs) 140 are located in the service area and are connected to the HDT 130 via optical fiber 160. Digital signals with a format corresponding to the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) format are transmitted to and from each ONU 140 over the optical the fiber 160 at a speed of at least 155 Mb/s, and preferably 622 Mb/s. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber 160 is a single mode fiber and a dual wavelength transmission plane is used to communicate between ONU 140 and HDT 130. An alternative embodiment uses a single wavelength plane in which low reflectivity components are used to allow transmission and reception on a fiber.

A telephony interface unit (TIU) 145 in the ONU 140 generates an analog common

old-fashioned telephone signal (POTs) carried to the home 190 via a twisted pair, the drop line cable 180. At the home 190, a network interface device (NED) 183 provides high voltage protection and serves as the interface and point of demarcation between the twisted pair, the drop line cable 180 and the twisted pairs 181 contained within in the home 190.1 a preferred embodiment, the TIU 145 generates POT's signals for six homes 190, each having a separate twisted pair, a drop line cable 180 which is connected to the ONU 140.

As shown in Figure 2, a broadband interface unit (BIU) 152 is located in the ONU 140 and generates broadband signals containing video, data and number information. The BIU 152 modulates data on an RF carrier and sends the data to the home 190 over the medium 170, such as a coaxial drop line cable or a twisted pair drop line cable. The medium 170 is connected to the home 190 by a divider 177. The data then travels from the divider 177 to the devices located in the home 190 via the coaxial cable 171 which is inside the home 190.

In one embodiment, 64 ONUs 140 are served by each HDT 130 and each ONU 140 serves 8 households 190. In an alternative embodiment, each ONU 140 serves 16 households 190.

As shown in Figure 2, each device connected to the internal coaxial cable 171 will require an interface subsystem that can convert the current format of the signal transmitted over the internal coaxial cable 171 to the service interface required by the devices (ie telephone 194, TV 199, computer or other devices). In a preferred embodiment, the PED 196 extracts the time-division multiplexed information carried on the internal coaxial cable 171 and generates a telephone signal compatible with the telephone 194. Similarly, the STB 198 converts digital video signals to analog signals compatible with the television 199. Likewise, generating EBR 191 a signal compatible with the computer.

In the system illustrated in Figure 2, the NID 193 is located outside the home 190, at a location that the industry refers to as the network demarcation point. For the provision of telephony services, the NID 183 is a passive device whose main functions are lightning protection and the ability to troubleshoot the network by allowing the connection of a telephone 194 to the twisted pair, drop line cable 180 to determine if there are cabling problems on the internal twisted pairs 181.

Figure 3 illustrates a residential gateway (RG) 200 located within the residence 190. In the embodiment illustrated, the network is an FTTC network and the media 170 is a coaxial drop line cable for connection to and communication with the RG 200. The RG 200 generates signals that are compatible with the devices in the home 190, thus reducing the number of interface subsystems required in the home 190 to interface between the FTTC network and the devices (ie the telephone 194, TV 199 and computer 193). The devices are connected either directly or indirectly to the RG 200 instead of being connected to an interface subsystem. By way of example, the computer 193 and the telephone 194 may be directly connected to the RG 200 via internal twisted pairs 181. As a person skilled in the art will appreciate, multiple computers 193 or telephones 194 may be connected to the RG 200 using a component that is outside RG 200, or by having additional Ethernet ports for the computers 193 or telephone sockets for the telephones 194 in the housing of the RG 200.

TV 199 may be connected directly to RG 200 via video cables 205. In a preferred embodiment, the video cables 205 used for the direct RG-TV connection 205 is a four-conductor cable carrying S-video signals. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will know that additional TVs 199 may be directly connected to the RG 200 by using a splitter or additional S-video connectors in the housing of the RG 200. The preferred embodiment would be to have additional S-video connectors such that the quality of the video signals will be maintained. Also, TV 199 would be directly connected to RG 200 then would have to be within a short distance from RG 200 as S-video signals can only maintain their quality over a limited distance.

Additional devices 192, such as additional TVs 199 that are remote from the RG 200 (hereinafter referred to as remote TVs 199) may be connected to the RG 200. In one embodiment, the additional devices 199 are connected to the RG 200 via media 210, such as internal coaxial cable and the splitter 177. That is, a port, such as a coaxial connector, on the RG 200 can connect several additional devices 192 to the RG 200. This type of connection is known as a point-to-multipoint connection. Alternatively, each further device 192 could be directly connected to the RG 200 using the simple media 210, so that parts 177 are not used. This type of connection is known as a point-to-point connection and will require the RG 200 to have several ports, such as, for example, coaxial connectors.

It should be obvious to anyone skilled in the art that any of the devices (TV 199, telephones 194, computers 193, etc.) can be connected to the RG 200 with any type of cable capable of transmitting signals compatible with the individual device. Also, the RG 200 may include any type of port capable of receiving signals compatible with a particular device.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the digital network is a network of digital subscriber lines (DSL). In this embodiment, the DSL network replaces the ONU 140 with a universal service access multiplexer (USAM) 340. The USAM 340 is located in the service area, and is connected to the HDT 130 via optical fiber 160. A twisted pair, the drop line cable 180, to provide communication to and from the RG 200.

The USAM 340 includes an xDSL modem 350 that provides transmission of high-speed digital data to and from the residence 190 over the twisted pair, drop line cable 180. As used herein, the term xDSL refers to any of the transmission techniques over the twisted pair digital subscriber loop including high speed digital subscriber loops ("High Speed Digital Subscriber Loop"), asymmetric digital subscriber loops ("Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop"), very high speed digital subscriber loops ("Very high speed Digital Subscriber Loop"), rate adaptive digital subscriber loops ("Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Loop") or other equivalent twisted pair transmission techniques. Such transmission techniques are known to those skilled in the relevant art. The XDSL modem 350 contains the circuitry and software to generate a signal that can be transmitted over the twisted pair, drop line cable 180, and that can receive high speed digital signals transmitted from the RG 200 or other devices connected to the subscriber network.

Traditional analog telephone signals are combined with the digital signals for transmission to the home 190. A NED/filter 360 replaces the NED 183 in Figures 2 and 3, and is used to separate the analog telephone signals from the digital signals. The bulk of xDSL transmission techniques leave the analog voice part of the spectrum (from about 400 Hz to 4000 Hz) undisturbed. The analog telephone signals, once separated from the digital data signals in the spectrum, are sent to the telephone 194 over the internal twisted pair wires 181. The digital signals separated by the NID/filter 360 are sent from a separate port on the NID/filter 360 to the RG 200. The RG 200 serves as an interface to other devices (TV 199, computers 193, and further telephones 194) in the home 190. The connection of the devices within the home 190 to the RG 200 is in the same way as described above with reference to Figure 3.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 is a central configuration, which includes a USAM central terminal (COT) 324 that is connected to the HDT 130. A USAM COT-HDT connection 325 is a twisted pair that carries an STS3c signal in a preferred embodiment. A PSTN-USAM COT interface 303 is one of the Bellcore-specified interfaces including TR-TSY-000008, TR-NWT-000057 or TR-NWT-000303, all of which are hereby incorporated by this reference. The USAM COT 324 has the same mechanical configuration as the USAM 340 in terms of power supplies and common control card, but has line cards that support twisted pair interfaces to the PSTN 100 (including DS-1 interfaces) and cards that support STS3c transmission over the twisted pairs at The USAM COT-HDT connection 325.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 also includes a channel bank (CB) 322 in the exchange. CB 322 is used to connect special network 310, which may include signals from special private or public networks, to the DSL network via a special network CB interface 313. A preferred embodiment includes a CB-USAM COT connection 320 DS 1 signals over twisted pairs of wires.

The RG 200 may be located anywhere within the home 190 (ie, anywhere in the living space, such as in the basement, in the garage, in a switch cabinet, or in the attic), or on the outside of the home (ie, on an exterior wall). For external locations, the RG 200 will need a reinforced cabinet and components that will work over a larger temperature range than those used for an RG 200 located inside the home 190. Techniques for developing reinforced cabinets and choosing temperature-resistant components are known to professionals in the field.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of the RG 200. The RG 200 includes a network connection 460 for connection to the digital network. The network connection 460 will vary depending on the digital network to which the RG 200 connects. That is, the network connection 460 will depend on whether the digital network for the area where the home 190 is located is an FTTC network, a DSL network or another type of digital network. If, for example, the drop line from the digital network to the RG 200 is a coaxial cable (ie the FTTC network as shown in figure 3) the network connection 460 should be a coaxial cable connector. If the drop line from the digital network to the RG 200 is twisted pair cable (ie the DSL network as shown in Figure 4) then the network connection 460 should be a connector capable of receiving twisted pairs, such as a telephone jack. As one of ordinary skill in the art will know, the network connection 460 can be a variety of different connector types as long as the connector is capable of receiving the signals transmitted over the drop line from the digital network.

The network connection 460 is connected to a network interface module (NM) 410. The NEM 410 receives all data from and transmits all data to the digital network and thus accommodates the associated modem technology. As with the case of the network connection 460, the type of NEM 410 used will depend on the type of digital network to which the RG 200 is connected. In a preferred embodiment, different types of NEM 410 are utilized for digital networks with coaxial drop line cables (i.e. the FTTC network shown in Figure 3) than for digital networks having twisted pair drop line cables (i.e. the DSL network shown in Figure 4). .

Regardless of which type of NEM 410 is used, the NEM 410 interfaces with a motherboard 414 that provides the basic functionality of the RG 200. The motherboard 414 may accommodate a microprocessor 434, memory 436, a power supply 440, a main MPEG processor 430, a Ethernet processor 438 and a remote control (RC) processor 442. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, motherboard 414 may accommodate additional components, or some of the components illustrated as being part of motherboard 414 may be removed from or located elsewhere within RG 200, without deviating from the scope of the present invention. RG 200 receives power from a power source, which in a preferred embodiment is an AC outlet, via a plug 476, which in a preferred embodiment is an AC plug. The power supply 440 converts the voltage from the AC source, such as 120 volts AC in a typical residence 190, to the voltages necessary for each of the components of the RG 200 to function. The power supply 440 is illustrated as being an element on the motherboard 414, but as one skilled in the art will know, the power supply could just as well be a separate component inside the RG 200.

The microprocessor 434 controls the operation of the RG 200. The microprocessor 434 can, for example, control the transfer of data between each of the elements of the RG 200. The memory 436 can store the function program necessary for the microprocessor 434, data received from the digital network or from any of the other devices in the home 190 that are connected to the RG 200, or other data or programs that the RG 200 needs.

The Ethernet processor 438 converts ATM cells received by the NEV1 410 into the form suitable for transmission to the devices, such as the computers 193. The computers 193 are connected to the RG 200 via an Ethernet connector 478 located in the enclosure of the RG 200. As illustrated in Figure 5, the RG 200 has only one Ethernet connector 478. This may seem to imply that only one computer can be connected to the RG 200. However, as one of ordinary skill in the art will know, a connector can be used for to connect additional computers 193 to the RG 200. Also, an alternative embodiment could include additional Ethernet connectors 470 located in the enclosure of the RG 200 so that additional computers 193 can be connected to the RG 200.

In the main MPEG processor 430 there is a video segmentation and reassembly (VSAR) module 432 which builds the "Motion Picture Experts Group"

(MPEG) packets from an ATM stream that is received from a NIM 410.1 In addition to building the MPEG packets, the VSAR module 432 can reduce jitter in the MPEG packets that arises from transmission of these packets over the ATM network 110 so as well as building a usable MPEG stream despite lost ATM cells containing partial MPEG packets. It should be obvious to one skilled in the relevant art that the VSAR module 432 does not necessarily have to be part of the main MPEG processor 430. The VSAR module 432 may, for example, be a separate module on the motherboard 414, may be a separate subassembly or may be part of another processor, such as the NIM 410.

Although the VSAR module 432 has been described as building MPEG packets from received ATM streams, this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Rather, this is simply the current preferred embodiment. That is, digital data is currently transmitted over digital networks in ATM streams and digital video data is currently compressed in accordance with the MPEG standard (currently the MPEG-2 standard). It is within the scope of the present invention to receive digital data from a digital network in any format and for the video data to be compressed to any format. That is, a person of ordinary skill in the art can modify the VSAR module 432 to handle new transmission or compression formats without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The main MPEG processor 430 may also decompress the MPEG packets, which are built by the VSAR module 432, to generate video signal(s) compatible with the present televisions 199.1 In one embodiment, the main MPEG processor 430 generates video signal with an S - video format. The S-video signals can be transmitted via S-video connector 474 to a TV 199 with an S-video port via an S-video cable 205. As one of ordinary skill in the art knows, S-video signals are higher quality video signals because the chrominance information and luminance information are separated. The TV 199 receiving the S-video signals should be located in close proximity to the RG 200 to ensure the quality of the S-video signals. As illustrated, there is only one TV 199 which is connected to the RG 200 with the S-video cable 205 and only one S-video connector 474. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention as it would be possible to have several TVs 199 (whereas it is assumed that they are located near the RG 200) that receive S-video signals from the RG 200 by splitting the signal transmitted from the one S-video connector 474 or by providing several S-video connectors on the housing of the RG 200.

In one embodiment, the main MPEG processor 430 may decompress multiple MPEG packets corresponding to multiple television channel selections to generate video signals compatible with the appropriate television format, which in the United States is currently "National Television System Committee (NTSC) format. However, the invention is not limited to the NTSC format. Within the scope of the present invention is also the generation of television signals that conform to a currently applicable standard, whether it is the NTSC format or a new format. Main MPEG For example, processor 430 may simultaneously decompress three video streams to generate three video signals associated with three television channel selections. The television signals may be transmitted to televisions 199 by either combining or modulating each television signal over a medium or by modulating each TV signal over a separate medium.

The RC processor 442 is capable of processing RC signals received by the RG 200. In one embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, for example, the RC processor 442 receives optical signals, such as infrared (IR) signals, from an optical receiver 472, such as an IR receiver, and wireless signals, such as UHF signals, from a wireless receiver 470, such as a UHF receiver. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the RC processor 442 may be designed to handle any type of channel selection signals received from a variety of different RC devices. Also, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the RC processor 442 is not limited to the illustrated configuration which is a module located on the motherboard 414. For example, the RC processor 442 could be located on another board or could be incorporated as part of another module.

The embodiment of RG 200 illustrated in Figure 5 further includes the optical receiver 472. The optical receiver 472 receives channel selection commands for the television 199 which is directly connected to the RG 200, preferably via the S-video port 474. As indicated previously, this television 199 will be in immediate proximity of RG. In a preferred embodiment, the RG 200 may be located in a stereo cabinet with the TV 199 or placed on top of the TV 199, similar to a VCR. As with a VCR, the TV 199 may be tuned to a particular channel, for example channel 3 or 4 like a VCR, and the channel selection control for the TV 199 will then be controlled by the optical RC sending channel selection commands to the RG 200 directly . Although the illustrated embodiment is the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to using an optical RC to control the TV 199 which is directly connected to the RG 200. The RC could be, for example, a wireless RC or a wired RC device.

The RG 200 illustrated in Figure 5 further includes the wireless receiver 470 for receiving channel selection signals from the remotely located televisions 199 connected to the RG 200 and located in different rooms or even on different floors of the home 190. As for TV 199 which is directly connected to and located in close proximity to RG 200, the remote TVs 199 could be tuned to a particular channel, for example channel 3 or 4 as for a VCR, and the control of channel selection for the remote TVs 199 would then be controlled by means of a wireless RC associated with each TV 199. The wireless RC transmits the channel selection commands to the RG 200 directly.

The RG 200 also includes a collection of buses 429 used to route information within the RG 200. As illustrated in Figure, the collection of buses 429 includes a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus 420, a control bus 422, an MPEG bus 424, and an ATM bus 428.

The RG 200 may also include a number of selectable modules that can be inserted into the RG 200. The selectable modules include MPEG modules 450, a "Digital Audio Visual Council"

(DAVIC) module 452, and a telephony module 454. All the selectable modules connect to

the control bus 422 which, in addition to being connected to at least one other bus, supplies these modules with the correct data types for the services supported by the module.

The MPEG modules 450 provide decompression of MPEG packets constructed using the VSAR processor 432. The MPEG modules are associated with remote televisions 199. As was the case with the output of the main MPEG processor 430, the output of the MPEG- the modules 450 a signal with a format compatible with the present televisions 199. The MPEG modules 450 can modulate the decompressed analog format video signal on an available channel for transmission to the remotely located televisions 199 in the home 190. 1 a preferred embodiment is the MPEG modules 450 plug-in cards. Thus, the cards can be added after an initial installation to handle additional TVs 199. In one embodiment, for example, the main MPEG processor 430 may be able to generate three TV signals so that the RG 200 can serve three TVs 199 without the need for some MPEG modules 450. If a fourth TV 199 is added, or one of the TVs 199 had picture-in-picture, then an MPEG module 450 would be needed to generate a fourth TV signal.

The DAVTC module 452 is for communicating with devices that have a signal format compatible with a signal format received from the digital network. That is, the DAVIC module transmits ATM signals to and receives ATM signals from these devices. Thus, the DAVIC module 452 enables the RG 200 to act as a pass-through for these devices. These devices can include the interface subsystems illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. This is advantageous because the RG 200 can be used in conjunction with previously acquired interface subsystems if this is needed or desired.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the MPEG modules 450 and the DAVIC module 452 are connected by a combiner 418 which combines the RF signals from these modules. Note that this embodiment has only one RF connector 466 so that the combiner 418 is required to combine all the TV signals and ATM signals so that they can be transmitted over a single medium 210 connected to the RF connector 466. If multiple RF connectors 466 were provided, it is possible that the combiner would not be required or could be located externally. However, the combiner can also add other RF signals, such as television signals broadcast without going over the air or local area television (CATV) signals provided by a cable television company. The signal from the antenna or cable system is connected to the RF feedthrough 464, which in a preferred embodiment is an F connector. A low pass filter 482 is used in the combiner 418 to ensure that the frequencies used by the MPEG modules 450 are available. The output of the combiner 418 is connected to the RF connector 466, which in a preferred embodiment is an F connector. An optional CATV module 480 can be inserted into the RG 200 to reassign over-the-air or cable video channels from their original frequencies to new frequencies for home distribution. The RC processor 442 can control the channel selection and assignment via the control bus 422 which is connected to the CATV module 480. A handheld optical RC or a wireless RC can be used to change the CATV module 480's channel assignment.

The RG 200 includes a front panel interface 462, which provides connectivity between the front panel controls (buttons) and the microprocessor 434. Through the front panel controls, the user can make channel changes as well as change the configuration of the channels carried on the home coax network.

The RG 200 also includes a telephony module 454, which transmits and receives information from the TDM bus 420 and produces an analog telephone signal compatible with the telephones 194. The interface for the telephones 194 is a telephone jack 468, which in a preferred embodiment is an RJ-11 contact.

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of how the RG 200 can be configured in the home 190. As illustrated, the remotely located TVs 199 use a wireless RC 500 to transmit channel selection commands to the RG 200. Specifically, TVs 1 and 2 are located on a second floor, while the RG 200 and TV3, which is directly connected to the RG 200 via the S-video connector 474, is located on a ground floor of the residence 190. Wireless RCs 1 and 2 are associated with the television sets 1 and 2 and transmit channel commands for the associated television sets to the RG 200 as wireless signals. The wireless channel selection commands are received by the RG 200 via the wireless receiver 470. The channel selection commands for TV3 are transmitted using an optical RC 510. The channel selection commands are received by the optical receiver 472 in the RG 200.

This embodiment illustrates the television sets 1 and 2 as being connected to the RG 200 via a connector 177. This is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. On the other hand, as has been previously discussed, it is within the scope of the invention to have several coaxial connectors in the cabinet of the RG 200 so that each remotely located television set 199 can be directly connected to the RG 200. As an ordinary expert in the field will know, there is a limit to how many ports that can be added to the cabinet, so that there is a limit to how many separate remote television sets 199 can be directly connected to the RG 200. In this way, it is possible to have some of the remote televisions 199 connected directly to a port in the RG 200 and others which are connected to a port via the divider 177.

A disadvantage of the embodiment shown in Figure 6 that utilizes wireless RCs 500 and the wireless receiver 470 (Figure 5) in the RG 200 (as illustrated in Figure 5) is that the longer the wireless signals must be transmitted and the more obstacles, such such as walls, the signals must propagate over, the weaker the signal at the wireless receiver 470, and the more likely it is that a channel selection command will be lost or distorted. Also, it is overwhelmingly likely that the average consumer will point the wireless RC 500 at the television set 199, which is most likely in a direction away from the RG 200 and the wireless receiver 470.

An alternative embodiment for transmitting channel commands from the remote television sets 199 to the RG 200 is illustrated in Figure 7.1 this embodiment is a remote antenna package (RAP 900) connected to each remote television set 199. The RAP 900 is a passive device for receiving and transmitting the wireless the signals. The RAP 900 includes an antenna 910, such as a 1/4-wave dipole antenna, which is located in close proximity to the television set 199, and preferably attached to the television 199. A wireless RC 500 is used to select a channel. The wireless RC 500 transmits a channel selection command on one of the common wireless frequencies known to those skilled in the relevant art. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless signal is transmitted at a frequency of approximately 433 MHz. The FCC regulations for wireless RC mandate a maximum transmitter power equal to 80.5 dbu V/m at a distance of 3 meters. One such wireless RC 500 that can be used in conjunction with the present invention is the RCK-431N manufactured by DAE-Ryung. The antenna 910 receives the channel selection command and the RAP 900 transmits the wireless signal over the medium 210 (ie, coaxial cable) or the medium 210 and the splitter 177.

A remote antenna module (RAM) 920 is located near, and preferably connected to, the RG 200, receiving the wireless signal. The RAM 920 demodulates the wireless signal and extracts from it the channel selection command. In a preferred embodiment, the channel selection command is extracted as an audio signal of approximately 1 KHz. The RAM 920 then transmits the channel selection command to the RG 200 for processing. RAM 920 can be connected to RG 200 with, for example, audio cable which is better known as "speaker cable". In an alternative embodiment, the RAM 920 may be directly mounted on the RG 200. In another alternative embodiment, the RAM 920 may be an integral part of the RG 200. Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the RG 200 that includes a port 750 for receiving channel selection commands from the RAM 920. The channel selection commands are provided directly to the RC processor 442.1 this embodiment, a wireless antenna is not required to receive the wireless signals. Additionally, this embodiment includes several ports 630, such as TV connectors. Thus, there is no need for the combiner 418 of Figure 5. In contrast, this embodiment illustrates TV modules 654 to modulate the appropriate video channel over the appropriate port 630. Figure 9 illustrates a schematic drawing of an RG system utilizing RAP 900 and RAM 9220 for communication between the RG 200 and the remote television sets 199. As illustrated, the RAM 920 is connected to the RG 200 with both speaker cable 990 and coaxial cable 210. The RAM 920 is further connected to a splitter 177 which in turn is connected to two RAP 900. These The RAP 900 is connected to the remote television sets 199. Channel selection commands are received by the antenna 910 as wireless signals and the RAP 900 transmits the wireless signals over the coaxial cable 210 to the RAM 920. The RAM 920 extracts the channel selection commands and transmits them to the RG 200 over the speaker cable 990. Television signals are transmitted from RG 200 to television sets 199. As illustrated, RAM 920 is connected to RG 200 and thus receives the television signals. However, the RAM 920 simply relays the TV signals. The splitter 177 splits the TV signals to deliver TV signals to the two television sets 199. The TV signals are simply passed through the RAP 900 in this direction. Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the RAP 900.1 In addition to the antenna 910, this RAP 900 includes a combination of inductors and capacitors. Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment of RAM 920 that includes a combination of inductors and capacitors. Figures 10 and 11 depict values associated with each of the components, however this is only an example and should not be interpreted as a limitation of the scope of the present invention. On the other hand, as an ordinary expert in the field will know, other components, configurations of components and/or values of components can be used to achieve the same or similar purpose and will thus be well within the scope of the present invention. Figure 12 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which each remote television set 199 has an optical receiver 710, such as an IR receiver, connected to and located on or in close proximity to the television set 199. A user selects a channel by using an optical RC 700, such as an ER.-RC, which is associated with the optical receiver 710 to select a channel for the respective television set 199. The optical RC 700 transmits the channel selection commands as optical signals to the optical receiver 710. The optical receiver 710 converts the optical signal of a pulse train. This type of optical receiver 710 is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The pulse train from the optical receiver is then delivered to RF transmitter 720. RF transmitter 720 transforms the pulse train into an RF signal with a standard wireless frequency, as should be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the frequency of the RF signal is approximately 433 MHz. The RF transmitter 720 transmits the RF signal to the RG 200 over the medium 210. Figure 13 illustrates an embodiment of the RF transmitter 720. The RF transmitter 720 requires power to operate and is provided with a plug that can be plugged into a standard socket. As one of ordinary skill in the art will know, the RF transmitter 720 could include a battery that would supply the required power in the absence of the plug. The RF transmitter 720 includes a power regulator 725 which converts the received power into power necessary to operate the RF transmitter 720, such as, for example, 5V. The RF transmitter 720 receives the pulse train from the optical receiver 710 and the required power from the power regulator 725 at a bias switch 730. The pulse train controls the operation of the bias switch 730. That is, the pulse train controls the time when the bias switch 730 is on and the time when it is off . An oscillator 740, such as a SAW resonator stabilized oscillator, is connected to the bias switch 730. Thus, the bias switch 730 controls the time when power is delivered to the oscillator 740 and thus controls the oscillator 740's generation of the RF signal.

An attenuator 750 is connected to the output of the oscillator 740 to reduce the amplitude of the RF signal to a suitable level. The output from the attenuator 750 is connected to a diplexer 760 for directional introduction of the RF signal into the medium. That is, the diplexer 760 ensures that the RF signal is transmitted over the medium of the RG 200 and not towards the remote television set 199 which is also connected to the RF transmitter 720. The diplexer 760 may consist of several filters such as a band pass filter (BPF) 770 and a band stop filter (BRF) 780.1 the downstream direction allows the BPF 770 RF signal to pass through and be transmitted in the direction of the RG 200, while the BRF 780 ensures that the RF signal is not delivered to the television set 199.1 the upstream direction allows the BRF 780 TV signal to pass through and be transmitted to the TV 199, while the BPF 770 ensures that the TV signal is not delivered to the rest of the RF transmitter 720 or the optical receiver 710.

As illustrated, the optical receiver 710 and the RF transmitter 720 are separate components. However, as one of ordinary skill in the field will be aware of, it is well within the scope of the present invention to combine the optical receiver 710 and the RF transmitter 720 in a single device. That is, an optical conversion device (OCD) 790, such as an optical-to-RF conversion device, may include the optical receiver 710, the power regulator 725, the bias switch 730, the oscillator 740, the attenuator 750, and the diplexer 760. Although this OCD 790 was just described as a combined unit, it is also intended to be a generic name identifying the process being performed, whether it is the combined embodiment, embodiment where the optical receiver 710 and RF-210 are separate, or an equivalent embodiment.

Figures 14A and 14B illustrate a circuit diagram for a possible embodiment of the RF transmitter 720. Note that this is only an embodiment and thus is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The RF transmitter 720 (or OCD 790) transmits the RF signal over the medium 210, such as a coaxial cable. The RF signal is received by the RAM 920 (previously described with reference to Figure 7) which is connected to the RG 200. This RAM 920 demodulates the RF signal and extracts the part of the signal that corresponds to the channel selection commands. This RAM can, for example, extract the 1 KHz signal (ie the audio signal) from the RF signal, where the 1 KHz signal corresponds to the channel selection commands. The RAM 920 delivers the channel selection commands to the RG 200. The RAM 920 can transmit the channel selection commands to the RG 200 over audio cables (ie speaker wire). Other options may include directly connecting the RAM 920 to the RG 200 or incorporating the RAM 920 into the RG 200.

Figure 15 illustrates an embodiment of an RG system that utilizes the RAM 920 for communication between the RG 200 and the remote television sets 199 in addition to the use of diplexers and baluns to transmit network signals over the medium 210. As illustrated, the channel selection commands are UHF signals which is transferred over the medium 210 using RAP 900 (as described in figure 7). The channel selection commands can also be IR signals transmitted over the medium 210 using the RF transmitter 720 or the OCD 790 (as described in Figure 13).

As illustrated in Figure 15, three TV signals are modulated over three separate channels via three separate ports in the RG 200. The three TV signals are combined into a combined TV signal using a combiner 802. The combined TV signal is then split into two signals using the splitter 804 so that the combined TV signal can be transmitted to a television set 199 in the immediate vicinity of the RG 200 and to the remotely located television sets 199. In this embodiment, the combined TV signal is transmitted to a VCR connected to the TV 199 in the immediate vicinity of the RG 200. As illustrated, televisions 199 located in the immediate vicinity of the RG 200 S video signals do not receive, but instead receive the same signal formats received by the remotely located televisions 199. As discussed earlier, the format of these television signals can be the NTSC format currently used in the United States. To one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, it will be obvious that if the TV 199 located in close proximity to the RG 200 receives the TV signals as an S-video signal from the S-video port, there will be no need for the splitter 804.

The combined TV signal transmitted to the remote television sets 199 may be passed through RAM 920. RAM 920 will not perform any processing of the combined TV signals. The combined TV signal can then be connected to a multiplexer 806 located in the immediate vicinity of the RG 200. Thus, the other signals, such as VDSL signals from the telecommunications network, can be transmitted over the same medium 210 that connects the RG 200 to the remotely located TVs devices 199. The medium 210 is illustrated as a coaxial cable 210 in Figure 15. In order for the other signals to be transmitted over the same medium 210, the other signals must be passed through a balun 808 which is located in the immediate vicinity of the RG 200. Balun 808 matches the impedance of the other signals so that they can be transmitted over the same medium 210. As illustrated, for example, the digital signals transmitted between the telecommunications network and the RG 200 are transmitted over twisted pair cables. Thus, in this embodiment, balun 808 provides the necessary impedance matching to allow transport of the 100 ohm VDSL signal received from the digital network over the existing 75 ohm co axial cable 210 in the home.

The combined TV signal and other signals are then transmitted over the common medium 210, such as the coaxial cable in the home, to a remote location in the home 190. A diplexer 810 is placed at the remote location to remove other signals from the medium. A balun 812 is used to regulate the impedance of the other signals so that they can be transmitted over the twisted wire parking cables to the telecommunications network. The combined TV signal is then split using the splitter 177 so that it can be delivered to multiple remote television sets 199. As illustrated, the combined TV signal is delivered to the RAP 900. However, the RAP 900 does no processing of the combined TV signal. Each of the remote televisions 199 then displays the television signal for the channel selected for the viewer.

When the viewer of the remote TV 199 wishes to change the channel, the viewer programs a wireless RC that transmits wireless signals, such as the UHF signal, to the RAP 900. The RAP 900 receives the wireless signal, which includes the channel selection command, and transmits the wireless signal downstream over the medium 210 (for example the coaxial cable). The wireless signals that are received from the remotely located television sets 199 are combined at the splitter 177 onto the medium 210. Downstream signals from the telecommunications network can be transmitted over the same medium 210 using balun 812 to regulate the signals' impedance and the diplexer 810 to transmit the signals over the medium 210 .When the downstream signals are near the RG 200, the diplexer 806 removes the other signals from the medium 210 and delivers them to the balun 808 so that the impedance can be adjusted and the other signals can be delivered to the network input of the RG 200. The wireless signals are delivered from the diplexer 806 to RAM 920 where the channel selection command is extracted and modulated to the RG 200. As illustrated, the channel selection commands are modulated to the RG 200 over speaker line 922. The channel selection commands are not delivered to the splitter. 804.

It should be apparent that several connections are required to install the configuration shown in Figure 15. That is, the combiner 802 must be connected to the RG 200, the splitter 804 must be connected to the combiner 802, the RAM 920 must be connected with the splitter 804, the diplexer 806 must be connected to the RAM 920, the RAM 920 must be connected to the RG 200, the balun 808 must be connected to the RG 200, and the diplexer 806 must be connected to the balun 808. The dashed line in Figure 15 illustrates the components that can be replaced by a simple device in an alternative embodiment. The alternative embodiment makes use of a media interface device (MID) 800, such as a coaxial interface device, which includes the combiner 802, the splitter 804, the diplexer 806, the balun 808, and the RAM 920, and may be arranged directly on the RG 200. Using the MID 800 reduces the number of independent devices and the number of cables required for the installation of the configuration shown in figure 15.

Figure 16 illustrates a schematic drawing for the MID 800. The MED 800 includes several connectors, a 2x3 RF splitter 803, a RAM 920, a diplexer 806, a balun 808 and associated connections between the devices as illustrated. The MID 800 performs all the functions previously described above for each of the individual components. The multi-connectors include five connectors for connections to RG 200: three video connectors 850, such as coaxial connectors; a connector 852 for the channel selection command, such as an audio connection; and a connector 864 to connect the telecommunications network to the RG 200, such as an RJ-45 connector. The collection of connectors also includes two connectors for connecting other devices: A connector 860, such as a coaxial connector, for the local television set 199, and a connector 862, such as a coaxial connector, for the remote devices.

The channel numbers illustrated in Figure 16 are examples of the channels assigned to each television set. The television signals associated with each television set are modulated on the coaxial cable with the frequency of the assigned channel. The illustration shows that the allocated channels are 3, 8 and 11. These channels have been chosen at random for illustration purposes and shall not be limiting of the scope of the present invention.

Figure 17 illustrates an embodiment of the housing of the MID 800. As illustrated, the MED 800 includes three video connectors 850 that are spaced sufficiently apart so that the MED 800 can be directly connected to the connectors on the RG 200. The MED 800 also includes two connectors 860, 862 for the local the television set 199 and the remote devices, as well as a connector 864 for connecting the MID 800 to the network input of the RG 200 and a connector 852 for connection to the channel selection command port, the audio port, of the RG 200. The MED 800 may have a molded case, which is preferably molded of metal-coated zinc. The MID 800 should be designed to shield the various modules located in the MID 800 from each other and from radiation from the outside. All the coaxial connectors should be built into the cabinet.

Claims (64)

1. In a residential environment with a plurality of television sets that can be placed in at least two different locations, a method for distributing video signals from a residential gateway, characterized in that the method includes: Receiving at least one channel selection command from one of a plurality of remote control devices associated with a respective one of the plurality of television sets, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote control devices is a wireless remote control device that transmits the channel selection command as a wireless signal, receiving a video signal from a telecommunications network in response to the at least one channel selection command; constructing from the video signal at least a series of video packets corresponding to the at least one channel selection command, to transport the at least one row of video packets over a video packet bus to a variety of video decoders, and decoding the at least one series of video packets to produce at least one television signal, which decoding is performed using at least one of the plurality of video decoders. 2. Method as specified in claim 1, characterized in that it further includes: Receiving the wireless signal from the at least one of the plurality of remote control devices by a remote antenna package connected to the first of the plurality of television sets, and to transmit the wireless signal from the remote antenna package over a medium. 3. Method as specified in claim 2, characterized in that it further includes: To receive the wireless signal from the medium by a remote antenna module located in the immediate vicinity of the residential gateway, demodulating the wireless signal and extracting the part corresponding to the channel selection command, and to transmit the channel selection command to the residential gateway. 4. Method as stated in claim 3, characterized in that receiving the wireless signal includes receiving an approximately 433 MHz wireless signal from the first in the plurality of remote control devices by a remote antenna package which is connected to the first in the plurality of television sets. 5. Method as stated in claim 4, characterized in that demodulating the wireless signal includes demodulating the wireless signal and extracting therefrom the channel selection command as an approximately 1 KHz signal. 6. Method as stated in claim 1, characterized in that at least one second in the plurality of remote control devices is an optical remote control device which transmits the channel selection command directly to the residential gateway as an optical signal. 7. Method as stated in claim 6, characterized in that the optical signal is received by an optical receiver which forms part of the residential gateway. 8. Method as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the wireless signal is an optical signal and the wireless remote control device is an optical remote control device, characterized in that the method further includes: Transmitting the optical signal from the optical remote control device to an optical receiver located in close proximity to and connected to the associated television apparatus, to detect the optical signal and to generate corresponding modulated pulse trains at the optical receiver, to transmit the pulse trains to an RF transmitter, to receive the pulse trains and to generate corresponding RF signals at the RF transmitter, and to transmit the RF signals from the RF transmitter to the residential gateway over a medium. 9. Method as stated in claim 8, characterized in that transmitting the RF signals from the RF transmitters includes: To transmit the RF signals from the RF transmitters to a remote antenna module over the medium, which medium connects the remote television sets with the remote antenna module, to receive the RF signals at the remote antenna module, extracting the channel selection commands from the RF signals received at the remote antenna module, and to transmit the channel selection commands from the remote antenna module to the residential gateway. 10. Method as stated in claim 9, characterized in that the medium is a coaxial cable. 11. Method as stated in claim 8, characterized in that transmitting the RF signals from the RF transmitters includes: Transmitting the RF signals from the RF transmitters to a medium interface device over the medium, which medium connects the remote television sets to the medium interface device, to receive the RF signals at the medium interface device, extracting the channel selection commands from the RF signals received at the media interface device, and transmitting the channel selection commands from the medium interface device to the residential gateway. 12. Method as stated in claim 8, characterized in that the optical remote control devices are infrared remote control devices and the optical signals are infrared signals. 13. A residential gateway for distributing video signals to a plurality of television sets that can be located in at least two separate locations in a residential environment, which residential gateway includes: A plurality of remote control devices associated with a respective one of the plurality of television sets to transmit channel selection commands, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of remote control devices is a wireless remote control device that transmits the channel selection command as a wireless signal, A network interface module for receiving signals including video signals from a telecommunications network, where the received video signals correspond to the channel selection commands, means for constructing at least a series of video packets from the received video signal, a plurality of video processors for decoding the at least one series of video packets to produce at least one television signal, and a video packet bus for transporting the at least one stream of video packets to the plurality of video processors. 14. Residential gateway as set forth in claim 13, characterized in that it further includes a remote antenna package associated with the first of the plurality of television sets associated with the first of the plurality of remote control devices, which remote antenna package receives the wireless signal and transmits the wireless signal over a medium . 15. Residential gateway as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that it further includes a remote antenna module to receive the wireless signal from the remote antenna package, to demodulate the wireless signal, to extract the part corresponding to the channel selection command, and to transmit the channel selection command to the residential gateway' one. 16. Residential gateway as specified in claim 15, characterized in that the remote antenna module is in the immediate vicinity of the residential gateway. 17. Residential gateway as specified in claim 15, characterized in that the remote antenna module is connected to the residential gateway. 18. Residential gateway as stated in claim 15, characterized in that the remote antenna module is included as part of the residential gateway. 19. Residential gateway as specified in claim 15, characterized in that the wireless signal has a frequency that is approximately 433 MHz. 20. Residential gateway as stated in claim 15, characterized in that the channel selection command is extracted from the wireless signal as an approximately 1 KHz signal. 21. Residential gateway as stated in claim 13, characterized in that at least one second in the plurality of remote control devices is an optical remote control device which transmits the channel selection command directly to the residential gateway as an optical signal. 22. Residential gateway as stated in claim 21, characterized in that it further includes an optical receiver to receive the optical signal from the optical remote control device. 23. Residential gateway as stated in claim 13, characterized in that the wireless signal is an optical signal and the wireless remote control device is an optical remote control device, which residential gateway further includes an optical conversion device in the immediate vicinity of the respective television set, which optical conversion device receives optical signals, including channel selection commands, from optical remote control devices associated with the remote television sets, converts the optical signals to RF signals, and transmits the RF signals to the residential gateway over a medium. 24. Residential gateway as stated in claim 23, characterized in that the optical conversion device includes: An optical receiver to detect the optical signal and to generate a corresponding pulse train, a bias switch connected to the optical receiver, which bias switch turns on and off in response to the pulse train, an oscillator connected to the bias switch to produce a modulated RF signal, which modulated RF signal is produced by turning the oscillator on and off in response to the bias switch, and a diplexer filter to inject the RF signal into the medium in the direction of the residential gateway. 25. Residential gateway as stated in claim 24, characterized in that the optical conversion device further includes an attenuator connected between the oscillator and the diplexer to reduce the amplitude of the RF signal. 26. Residential gateway as stated in claim 23, characterized in that it further includes a remote antenna module connected to the optical conversion device with the medium, which remote antenna module receives the RF signals and extracts the channel selection commands from the RF signals. 27. Residential gateway as specified in claim 26, characterized in that the medium is a coaxial cable. 28. Residential gateway as stated in claim 26, characterized in that the remote antenna module extracts the channel selection commands from the RF signal as a 1 KHz signal. 29. Residential gateway as stated in claim 23, characterized in that it further includes a medium interface device connected to the optical conversion device with the medium, which medium interface device receives the RF signals and extracts the channel selection commands from the RF signals. 30. Residential gateway as stated in claim 29, characterized in that the media interface device includes a diplexer to extract other signals from the medium, which other signals have been transported over the same medium as the channel selection commands. 31. Residential gateway as stated in claim 30, characterized in that the media interface device further includes a balun so that the impedance of a subset of the other signals can be regulated so that the subset of the other signals can be processed using the residential gateway. 32. Residential gateway as stated in claim 29, characterized in that the media interface device is directly connected to the residential gateway. 33. Method for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network at a residential gateway, and for transmitting the decoded signals from the residential gateway to a plurality of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the method includes: To connect the residential gateway with the telecommunications network and with at least one television set that is remotely located from the residential gateway, selecting a television channel for display by the at least one television set by programming an associated wireless remote control device, wherein the wireless remote control device transmits a channel selection command as a wireless signal to a remote antenna package connected to the television set, which remote antenna package receives the wireless signal and transmits the wireless signal over a medium to a remote antenna module which demodulates the wireless signal and extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command, to transmit the channel selection command to the telecommunications network, to receive a video signal from the telecommunications network corresponding to the channel selection command, decoding the video signal into a television signal, which decoding is performed by one of a plurality of video decoders associated with the plurality of television sets, and transmitting the television signals to the at least one television set. 34. Residential gateway to receive and decode signals from a telecommunications network and to transmit the decoded signals to a variety of devices including multiple television sets, characterized by the residential gateway including: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a plurality of video decoders for decoding the video signals into at least one television signal responsive to at least one channel selection command, and transmitting the at least one television signal to the corresponding television set, a remote control module for processing the channel selection command, wherein at least one of the channel selection commands is extracted from a wireless signal, which wireless signal is transmitted from a wireless remote control device to a remote antenna package connected to the associated television set, which remote antenna package transmits the wireless signal over a medium to a remote antenna module which demodulates it the wireless signal and extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command. 35. Residential gateway to receive and decode signals from a telecommunications network and to transmit the decoded signals to a variety of devices including several television sets, characterized in that the residential gateway includes: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a plurality of video decoders for decoding the video signals into at least one television signal corresponding to the at least one channel selection command, and transmitting the at least one television signal to the corresponding television set, a remote antenna package located in the immediate vicinity of and connected to a remote television set, which remote antenna package receives a wireless signal including a channel selection command, from a wireless remote control device associated with the remote television set and modulating the wireless signal over a medium, and a remote antenna module connected to the medium and the residential gateway, which remote antenna module demodulates the wireless signal, extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command and transmits to the residential gateway. 36. Method for receiving signals from a telecommunications network, decoding the signals and transmitting the decoded signals from a residential gateway to a plurality of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the method includes: To connect the residential gateway with the telecommunications network and with at least one television set that is remotely located from the residential gateway, selecting a television channel for display to the at least one television set by programming associated optical remote control devices, the optical remote control devices transmitting channel selection commands as optical signals to optical converting devices associated with the at least one television set, which optical converting devices receiving the optical signals, converting the optical signals to RF signals and transmits the RF signals over the medium to a remote antenna module which demodulates the RF signal and extracts the part that corresponds to the channel selection commands, to transmit the channel selection commands to the telecommunications network, to receive a video signal from the telecommunications network, processing the video signal to produce television signals corresponding to the channel selection commands, the processing being carried out by means of a video processor, and transmitting the television signals to the at least one television set. 37. A residential gateway for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network and transmitting the decoded signals to a plurality of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the residential gateway includes: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and for receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a video processor for processing the video signals into at least one television signal corresponding to the at least one channel selection command and transmitting the at least one television signal to the corresponding television set , A remote control module for processing the channel selection commands, wherein at least one of the channel selection commands is extracted from an RF signal received from an optical conversion device connected to a remotely located television set. 38. Residential gateway as stated in claim 37, characterized in that the RF signal is generated by means of the optical conversion device in response to an optical signal received from an optical remote control device, which optical conversion device transmits the RF signal via cable to a remote antenna module which demodulates the RF the signal and extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command. 39. Residential gateway for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network and transmitting the decoded signals to a variety of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the residential gateway includes: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a video processor for processing the video signals to generate television signals corresponding to the channel selection commands and to transmit the television signals to the corresponding television sets, an optical conversion device located in the immediate vicinity of and connected to a remote television, which optical converting device receives an optical signal, including a channel selection command, from an optical remote control device associated with the remote television, converting the optical signal into an RF signal and modulating the RF signal over the medium, and a remote antenna module connected to the medium and the residential gateway to demodulate the RF signal, to extract the part corresponding to the channel selection command and to transmit the channel selection command to the residential gateway. 40. Residential gateway as stated in claim 39, characterized in that the optical routing device includes: An optical receiver to detect the optical signal and to generate a corresponding pulse train, a bias switch connected to the optical receiver, which bias switch is turned on and off in response to the pulse train, an oscillator connected to the bias switch to produce a modulated RF signal in response to the bias switch turning the oscillator on and off, a diplexer filter to inject the RF signal into the medium in the direction of the residential gateway. 41. Residential gateway as stated in claim 40, characterized in that the optical conversion device further includes an attenuator connected between the oscillator and the diplexer to reduce the amplitude of the RF signal. 42. Residential gateway as specified in claim 39, characterized in that the remote antenna module is included as part of the media interface device. 43. Residential gateway as stated in claim 39, characterized in that the remote antenna module is part of the media interface device, which media interface device further includes a diplexer to extract other signals from the medium, which other signals have been transported over the same media as the channel selection commands. 44. Residential gateway as stated in claim 43, characterized in that the media interface device further includes a balun so that the impedance of a subset of the other signals can be regulated so that the subset of the other signals can be processed by the residential gateway. 45. An optical conversion device for receiving optical signals, converting the optical signals into RF signals and transmitting the RF signals over media, characterized in that the optical conversion device includes: An optical receiver for detecting the optical signal and producing a corresponding pulse train, a bias switch connected to the optical receiver, which bias switch is turned on and off in response to the pulse train, an oscillator connected to the bias switch to produce a modulated RF signal, which modulated RF signal is produced by turning the oscillator on and off in response to the bias switch, and a diplexer filter to directionally inject the RF signal into the medium. 46. Optical conversion device as stated in claim 45, characterized in that it further includes an attenuator connected between the oscillator and the diplexer to reduce the amplitude of the RF signal. 47. Optical conversion device as stated in claim 45, characterized in that the optical conversion device is connected to a television set and receives optical signals that correspond to the channel selection commands associated with the television set from an associated remote control device. 48. Optical conversion device as specified in claim 47, characterized in that the diplexer filter injects the RF signals into the medium in the direction of a residential gateway which controls communication between the television set and a telecommunications network. 49. Optical conversion device as stated in claim 45, characterized in that the medium is a coaxial cable. 50. Optical converting device for receiving optical signals representing channel selection commands from an optical remote control device associated with a television set, converting the optical signals into an RF signal and transmitting the RF signal over media to a residential gateway, characterized in that the optical the conversion device includes: An optical receiver to detect the optical signal and to generate a corresponding pulse train, a bias switch connected to the optical receiver, which bias switch is turned on and off in response to the pulse train, an oscillator connected to the bias switch to produce a modulated RF signal, which modulated RF signal is produced by the oscillator being turned on and off in response to the bias switch, and a diplexer filter to inject the RF signal into the medium in the direction of the residential gateway. 51. Optical conversion device as stated in claim 50, characterized in that it includes an attenuator connected between the oscillator and the diplexer to reduce the amplitude of the RF signal. 52. Method for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network at a residential gateway, and transmitting the decoded signals from the residential gateway to a plurality of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the method includes: To connect the residential gateway with the telecommunications network and with at least one television set that is located remotely from the residential gateway, selecting a television channel for display for the at least one television set by programming associated wireless remote control devices, wherein the wireless remote control devices transmit channel selection commands as wireless signals to remote antenna packages connected to the at least one television set, which remote antenna packages receive the wireless signals and transmit the wireless signals over media to a media interface router which demodulates the wireless signals and extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command, to transmit the channel selection commands to the telecommunications network, to receive a video signal from the telecommunications network, processing the video signal to produce television signals corresponding to the channel selection commands, the processing being carried out by means of a video processor, and transmitting the television signals to the at least one television set. 53. Residential gateway for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network and transmitting the decoded signals to a variety of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the residential gateway includes: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a video processor to process the video signals of at least one television signal corresponding to the at least one channel selection command and to transmit the at least one television signal to the associated television set, a remote control module for processing the channel selection commands, wherein at least one of the channel selection commands is extracted from a wireless signal, which wireless signal is transmitted from a wireless remote control device to a remote antenna package connected to the associated television set, which remote antenna package transmits the wireless signal over media to a media interface device which demodulates it the wireless signal and extracts the part corresponding to the channel selection command. 54. Residential gateway for receiving and decoding signals from a telecommunications network and transmitting the decoded signals to a variety of devices including multiple television sets, characterized in that the residential gateway includes: A network interface module for transmitting upstream signals, including channel selection commands, to the telecommunications network and receiving downstream signals, including video signals, from the telecommunications network, a video processor to decode the video signals into at least one television signal corresponding to the at least one channel selection command, and to transmit the at least one television signal to the associated television set, a remote antenna package located in the immediate vicinity of and connected to a remote television set, which remote antenna package receives a wireless signal, including a channel selection command, from a wireless remote control device associated with the remotely located television set and demodulating the wireless signal over the medium, and a media interface device connected to the medium and the residential gateway for demodulating the wireless signal, extracting the portion corresponding to the channel selection command and transmitting the channel selection command to the residential gateway. 54. Residential gateway as stated in claim 53, characterized in that the media interface device includes: A remote antenna module to extract the channel selection commands from the wireless signal, a splitter to split the at least one television signal so that the at least one television signal can be delivered to several locations, a balun to regulate the impedance of network signals to and from the telecommunications network so that they can be transmitted over the medium, and a diplexer to extract from the medium network signals from the telecommunications network and to introduce into the medium network signals from the residential gateway. 55. Residential gateway as stated in claim 54, characterized in that the media interface device further includes a combiner for combining the at least one television signal into a combined television signal and that the divider divides the combined television signal. 56. A media interface device for the directional distribution of signals to several devices over a medium, characterized in that the media interface includes: A first connector for receiving a first signal in a first direction, a second connector to receive a second signal in the first direction and to transmit a third signal in a second direction, a third connector for transmitting the first signal and the second signal over the media in the first direction and receiving the third signal and the fourth signal over the media in the second direction, a diplexer for extracting the third signal from the medium in the second direction and introducing the second signal in the first direction, a remote antenna module for receiving the fourth signal and for extracting a fifth signal therefrom, and a fourth connector for transmitting the fifth signal in the other direction. 57. Media interface device as set forth in claim 56, characterized in that it includes a balun to regulate the impedance of the second signal so that it can be introduced into the medium by means of the diplexer, and to regulate the impedance of the third signal extracted from the medium by means of the diplexer so that it can be transferred over the connector. 58. Media interface device as stated in claim 56, characterized in that it includes: A splitter to split the first signal into two identical first signals, and a fifth connector to transmit one of the two identical first signals in the first direction. 59. Media interface device as stated in claim 56, characterized in that it further includes a combiner, where the first connector includes several connectors and the first signal includes multiple signals, where each multiple signal is associated with a respective one of the several connectors, and which combinator combines each of the multiple signals together to form a combined signal, and which third connector transmits the combined signal and the second signal over the medium in the first direction. 60. Media interface device as set forth in claim 56, characterized in that it further includes an X by Y parts and additional connectors, where X and Y are integers, which first connector includes Y connectors and the first signal includes Y signals, where each Y signal is associated with a respective Y connector, and that the X by Y splitter combines the Y signals to form a combined signal and splits the combined signal into X identical combined signals, which third connector transmits the combined signal and the second signal over the medium in the first direction , and that the additional connectors transmit the combined signal in the first direction. 61. Media interface device as stated in claim 56, characterized in that the media interface device is directly connected to a residential gateway and distributes signals between the residential gateway, a telecommunications network and several devices that communicate with the telecommunications network via the residential gateway. 62. Media interface device as set forth in claim 61, characterized in that the first signal is a television signal, the second signal is an upstream network signal, the third signal is a downstream network signal, the fourth signal is a wireless signal, the fifth signal is a channel selection command, the first direction is away from the residential gateway and the other direction is towards the residential gateway. 63. Media interface device for connection with a residential gateway and to distribute signals to and from the residential gateway over a medium, characterized in that the media interface device includes: A first connector for receiving and transmitting signals over a medium, the received signals including wireless signals from wireless remote control devices associated with remotely located television sets and downstream network signals from a telecommunications networks, which transmitted signals include television signals and upstream network signals, a second connector to receive the television signals from the residential gateway, a third connector to receive the upstream network signals from the residential gateway and to transmit the downstream network signals to the residential gateway, a diplexer connected to the first connector, for extracting the downstream network signal from the medium and introducing the upstream network signal into the medium, a balun connected to the diplexer to regulate the impedance of the upstream network signals so that they can be introduced into the medium by means of the diplexer, and to regulate the impedance of the downstream network signals so that they can be processed by the residential gateway, and a remote antenna module connected to the diplexer to extract the channel selection commands from the wireless signals and to transmit the channel selection commands to the residential gateway. 64. Media interface device as set forth in claim 63, characterized in that it further includes an X by Y parts and X-1 additional connectors, where X and Y are integers, which second connector includes Y connectors each receiving a respective television signal, which X by Y parts combine the respective television signals to form a combined television signal and divides the combined signal into X identical combined television signals, which diplexer introduces the upstream network signals into the medium of the combined television signal, and which combined television signal is delivered to the X-1 additional connectors.