WO2019111049A1

WO2019111049A1 - Method and apparatus for over the top (ott) content

Info

Publication number: WO2019111049A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/001500
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven RHOADS
Original assignee: Interdigital Ce Patent Holdings
Priority date: 2017-12-06
Filing date: 2018-12-06
Publication date: 2019-06-13

Abstract

An arrangement provides an apparatus in conjunction with a modulator or video distribution so that both internet video content, such as over the top (OTT) video content, and traditional video content, such as satellite video content, may both be distributed over a wired connection, when a wireless connection on the premises may lack the bandwidth and/or reliability to distribute the video content. The apparatus intercepts, via the wireless network, the viewing requests from a signaling receiver for viewing OTT content, communicates with an OTT content source, and routes the requested OTT video content via the modulator using the wired connection to the requesting signaling receiver.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OVER THE TOP (OTT) CONTENT

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims the benefit of United States provisional patent application No. 62/595,320 filed 6 December 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in the entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

[002] The present principles generally relate to an apparatus and a method for video distribution, specifically, they relate to an apparatus and a modulator that provides OTT video content.

BACKGROUND

[003] Over the top (OTT) generally and usually refers to a media distribution practice that allows a streaming content provider to provide and sell audio, video, and other media services directly to the consumer over the internet via streaming media as a standalone product, bypassing telecommunications, cable or broadcast television service providers that traditionally act as a controller or distributor of such content. Well known examples of OTT content providers include but are not limited to, e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.

[004] A satellite content distribution system can be used in an environment where multiple televisions are used. Such an environment can include homes or businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. Such a satellite content distribution system is capable of tuning to and receiving the multiple satellite channels, demodulating the received transport streams in the satellite channels for further distribution through, for example, a QAM modulator device or an internet protocol (IP) data distribution system, for example, an IPTV system. One such example of an existing satellite content distribution system which is ideal for the multiple TV environment is DirecTV ®COM2000 designed and provided by Technicolor.

[005] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an existing content distribution system 100 in which content is received via a satellite link. As shown in Fig. 1, a satellite signal receiver device 101 receives, demodulates and decodes the satellite RF streams via a satellite antenna 102. The satellite receiver 101 then removes any encryption that may be present on the downlinked satellite signal. The satellite receiver 101 then outputs IP video in UDP or RTP format. An example of such a satellite receiver 101 is DirecTV© COM46.

[006] The output video from the satellite receiver 101 is then provided to a QAM modulator 103 thru an Ethernet connection as shown in FIG. 1. The QAM modulator 103 receives the demodulated MPEG-2 transport streams in the UDP or RTP format from the satellite receiver 101 for further distribution to the multiple video receivers 104-1 to 104-n on the premises. The QAM modulator 103 QAM modulates the MPEG-2 transport packets onto one of multiple QAM carrier frequencies and the corresponding television channel Each input stream results in one output QAM modulated frequency and the corresponding channel (such as cable channel 50-1) for distribution typically over a wired coaxial cable network. An example of a QAM modulator 103 is DirecTV® QAM6 which can provide up to 12 QAM modulated carriers to a video receiver in a home, or in a business such as in a hotel room.

[007] As shown in FIG. 1 , the output of the QAM modulator 103 is connected to the many video receivers 104-1 to 104-n in e.g., various rooms of a home or business, such as a hotel. Each of the video receivers 104-1 to 104-n is capable of tuning to and receiving the different QAM channels in order to receive, demodulate, decode and decompress the QAM modulated video from the QAM modulator 103. Each video receiver 104-1 to 104-n is also connected respectively to one of the video displays 105-1 to 105-n for displaying the processed received video content. An example such a video receiver 104-1 to 104-n as shown in FIG. 1 is DirecTV®DCI401MCS receiver which is able to demodulate, decode and decompress video encoded in, e.g., MPEG4 or MPEG2 compression format and outputs the decompressed video content via a HD Ml interface to a respective video display of 105-1 to 105-n shown in FIG. 1. However, the content distribution system 100 of Figure 1 does not specifically accommodate the distribution of OTT content for an end-user in a home or business setting.

SUMMARY

[008] According to a general aspect of at least one embodiment, an apparatus is presented and includes: a network interface configured to connect with a wide area network and to receive a video program through the wide area network; a wireless interface configured to connect with a wireless router and to send signaling information to a signaling receiver through the wireless router; a modulator interface configured to connect with a modulator; and at least one processor configured to: provide the signaling information to the signaling receiver via the wireless interface and the wireless router, wherein the signaling information indicates at least one frequency the signaling receiver is tuned for receiving the received video program; and provide the received video program from the wide area network to the signaling receiver using the modulator interface. [009] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the modulator interface is configured to perform at least one of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation, quadrature phase shift keying modulation (QPSK), or orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

[0010] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the signaling receiver is one of a smart phone, a laptop computer, or a set-top box.

[0011] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the signaling information comprises a packet identification indicating a packet stream containing the received video program.

[0012] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the at least one processor is configured to provide, via the modulator interface, the packet identification to the modulator for encapsulating the received video program in the packet stream using the packet identification at the modulator.

[0013] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the at least one processor is configured to provide, via the modulator interface, the frequency to the modulator for modulating the received video program. [0014] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the at least one processor is configured to receive a request from the signaling receiver for viewing a video program via the wireless interface and the wireless router.

[0015] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the at least one processor is configured to send via the network interface the request for viewing the video program from the signaling receiver to a video content provider.

[0016] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the modulator is configured to connect to the signaling receiver and to transmit the received video program using a cable wire. [0017] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the modulator is configured to multiplex video programs received from a signal receiver with the received video program into a multiplexed stream and to transmit the multiplexed stream to the signaling receiver.

[0018] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the wide area network is an internet network, and the wireless network is a WiFi network.

[0019] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, the apparatus is a video gateway.

[0020] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method performed by an apparatus that provides for: connecting with a wide area network via a network interface and receiving a video program through the wide area network; connecting with a wireless router via a wireless interface and sending signaling information to a signaling receiver through the wireless router; connecting with a modulator via a modulator interface; providing, via at least one processor, the signaling information to the signaling receiver via the wireless interface and the wireless router, wherein the signaling information indicates at least a frequency for which the signaling receiver is tuned for receiving the received video program; and providing, via the at least one processor, the received video program from the wide area network to the signaling receiver via the modulator interface. [0021] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes connecting with a modulator via a modulator interface comprises connecting with the modulator using a modulator interface accommodating one of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation, quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation, or orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

[0022] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes identification indicating a packet stream containing the received video program.

[0023] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes providing via the at least one processor, the packet identification to the modulator via the modulator interface for encapsulating the received video program in the packet stream using the packet identification at the modulator.

[0024] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes providing via the at least one processor, the frequency to the modulator via the modulator interface for modulating the received video program. [0025] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes receiving via the at least one processor, a request from the signaling receiver for viewing a video program via the wireless interface and the wireless router.

[0026] According to another general aspect of at least one embodiment, a method further includes sending via the network interface, the request for viewing the video program from the signaling receiver to the video content provider.

[0027] One or more of the present embodiments also provide a computer program product including computing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer storage medium to be executed by one or more processors according to one or more of the methods described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates an existing satellite video distribution system.

[0029] FIG. 2 is an exemplary system for distributing both internet video content and satellite video content according to an embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method according to an embodiment.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION [0032] The present inventor recognizes the need to provide the ability to be able to also access internet video content such as OTT video content for the above-described satellite distribution system 100 in a multiple-television environment shown in FIG. 1. It is envisioned that the next generation video receiver in a home or business environment, such as in a hotel room, restaurant and the like will also have a WiFi connection to connect over an available WiFi network. The present inventor further recognizes that the WiFi connection over the locally available WiFi network may not be reliable and/or is not able to provide enough bandwidth for OTT video streaming. Thus, a better-quality link for OTT content is needed.

[0033] Therefore, the present inventor provides a solution in which an apparatus, such as a video gateway or other equipment having the functionality described herein, is provided together with a modulator so that both internet video content such as e.g., over the top (OTT) video content and traditional video content such as e.g., satellite video content may both be distributed over a wired connection, when a wireless connection on the premises may lack the bandwidth and/or reliability. Although a video gateway is used as an example herein, an apparatus having the functionality described herein may be used. The video gateway intercepts, via the wireless network, the viewing requests from a signaling receiver for viewing the OTT content, communicates with the OTT content providers, and routes the requested OTT video content via a modulator using wired connection (e.g., cable) to the requesting signaling receiver (e.g., a smartphone, laptop, television, or other type of signaling receiver) located in a room of a home or business, such as a hotel and the like. Accordingly, the present arrangements provide a solution which works transparently with the existing streaming content protocols without the need to make changes on either the server or the client side of an OTT service.

[0034] An exemplary system 200 for distributing both internet video content and satellite video content according to an embodiment of the present arrangements is shown in FIG. 2. Similar to system 100 shown in FIG. 1 and as already described before, system 200 shown in FIG. 2 provides the distribution of the existing video channels from a satellite dish 202 via a satellite receiver 201. The satellite receiver 201 receives, demodulates and decodes the satellite RF streams from the satellite antenna 202. The satellite receiver 201 then removes any encryption that may be used by the satellite transmission headend. The satellite receiver 201 then outputs IP video in UDP or RTP format to a modulator 203. In the description that follows, the modulator 203 may be referred to as a QAM modulator as an example. However, the modulator may be of any type such as an amplitude or frequency modulator, such as but not exclusive of VSB modulators, QPSK modulators, OFDM modulators, and other modulation type known in the art. Likewise, the receivers 204- 1 to 204-n may be referred to as a signaling receiver or a video receiver and can include any of a smartphone (cellular phone), laptop, tablet, personal digital assistant, set top box, television, or other receiver known in the art. [0035] The output video from the satellite receiver 201 in FIG. 2 is then provided to a modulator 203, which may be an Ethernet connection. In one example of a modulator, the modulator 203 may be a QAM modulator. The example QAM modulator 203 in FIG. 2 receives the demodulated MPEG-2 transport streams in the UDP or RTP format from the satellite receiver 201 for further eventual distribution to the multiple video receivers 204-1 to 204-n on the home or business premises. The QAM modulator 203 QAM modulates the MPEG-2 transport packets on to one of multiple QAM carrier frequencies and the corresponding QAM television channel. Each input stream results in one output QAM modulated frequency and the corresponding channel (such as cable channel 50-1) for distribution typically over a wired connection (e.g., a coaxial cable) to multiple video receivers 204-1 to 204-n as shown in FIG. 2.

[0036] The output of the QAM modulator 203 is connected to the many video receivers 204-1 to 204-n in various rooms of the home or business premises. Each of the video receivers 204- 1 to 204-n is capable of tuning to and receiving the different QAM channels in order to receive, demodulate, decode and decompress the QAM modulated video content from the QAM modulator 203. Each video receiver of 204-1 to 204-n is also connected respectively to one of video displays 205-1 to 205-n for displaying the processed received video content. Each video receiver of 204-1 to 204-n is able to demodulate, decode and decompress video content encoded in, for example MPEG4 or MPEG2 compressed format, and outputs the decompressed video content via an interface, such as a HDMI interface, to a respective video display of 205- 1 to 205-n.

[0037] In FIG. 2, one or more of the video receivers 204-1 to 204-n may also include a wireless interface such as a WiFi interface for connecting to a WiFi router 207 for accessing a wireless WiFi network 210. Thus, a user of the signaling receivers 204-1 to 204-n may make a streaming video access request, through the WiFi network 210 via the WiFi router 207, to view an internet video content such as an OTT video content from an OTT content provider. Such a request may be made as normal via a HTTP command to the OTT content provider as well known in the art. The signaling receivers 204-1 to 204-n may also be referred to as a video receiver in the description herein, but may be any device that can transmit and receive signals from the wireless network 210 and the modulator 203.

[0038] The exemplary system 200 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a video gateway 206 which is connected to the WiFi router 207, the QAM modulator 203, and wide area network 209, such as the internet. Therefore, when a user of one of the video receivers 204-1 to 204-n makes the viewing request to view the OTT video content through the WiFi network 210 via the WiFi router 207, the request is received, intercepted and/or processed by the video gateway 206 accordingly. The video gateway 206 passes the user’s request transparently to the appropriate OTT video content provider 208 such as Hulu, Netflix, and the like, via the wide area network 209 as shown in FIG. 2. The video gateway 206 then receives the requested streaming video in e.g., one of an adaptive video streaming format such as HTTP Five Streaming (HFS) format, when the OTT content provider 208 responds to the sent user request, sent by the video gateway 206.

[0039] The video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 2 then processes the received steaming video content as follows. The video gateway 206 determines a QAM frequency and the corresponding QAM channel for which the received streaming video is to be modulated on for sending the QAM modulated video content to the video receivers 204- 1 to 204-n, via the wired cable network of the premises. The video gateway 206 also determines the PID (Packet ID) of the transport packets to use to transport the QAM modulated video content to the video receivers 204-1 to 204-n, via the wired cable network of the premises. The video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 2 also segments the received IP packets of the received streaming video content into multiple MPEG2 transport packets, all with the determined PID. The MPEG2 transport packets are further placed into UDP packets. The UDP packets are then further encapsulated into IP packets. The IP packets are transmitted from the video gateway 206 to the QAM modulator 203 via a QAM modulator interface 303 (shown in FIG. 3) using an Ethernet connection. In one exemplary embodiment, the destination UDP port number dictates which QAM carrier frequency is used to carry the video content by the QAM modulator 203.

[0040] The IP packets formatted and sent by the video gateway 206 and received by the QAM modulator 203 are modulated by the QAM modulator 203 using the determined QAM frequency and the corresponding QAM channel to be distributed over a wired network to the one or more video receivers 204-1 to 204-n shown in FIG. 2. In one exemplary arrangement, the video gateway 206 also communicates signaling information via the WiFi router 207 and the WiFi network 210 in FIG. 2 to the video receiver which had requested the received streaming video content. The signaling information may include, for example, the QAM carrier frequency, the corresponding QAM channel number, and/or PID of the transport packets containing the received streaming content used by the video gateway 206 and the QAM modulator 203. Accordingly, the requesting video receiver is configured to receive and process the QAM modulated video content from the QAM modulator 203 based on this signaling information. The requesting video receiver is then able to tune, demodulate, decode and decompress the received video content and outputs the decompressed video content via a hardline interface, such as a HDMI interface, to a respective video display of 205-1 to 205 -n as in FIG. 2 for viewing by the user. Note that the receiver 204-1 and display 205-1 may be either a single unit or may be separate units.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of the video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 2 in which various aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be implemented. The video gateway 206 may be embodied as a device including the various components described below and is configured to perform the processes described herewith.

[0042] The exemplary video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 3 has a network interface 301 configured to connect with a wide area network 209 shown in FIG. 2 in order to receive a video program from a video content provider 208 through the wide area network 209. The video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 3 also has a wireless interface 302 configured to connect with a wireless router such as a WiFi router 207 shown in FIG. 2 for communications with a video receiver (204-1 to 204-n) over the wireless WiFi network 210 of FIG. 2. The video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 3 also has a QAM modulator interface 303 configured to connect with a QAM modulator 203 of FIG. 2. In one exemplary arrangement, the QAM modulator interface 303 may be an Ethernet interface as previously described.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the exemplary video gateway 206 also includes one or more processors 304 configured to execute instructions loaded therein for implementing the various processes as discussed herewith. The at least one processor 304 may include embedded memory, input output interface, and various other circuitries as known in the art. The video gateway 206 may also include at least one transitory or non-transitory memory 305 such as a volatile memory device, a non-volatile memory device, and the like. The video gateway 206 may additionally include at least one transitory or non-transitory storage device 306 which may include non-volatile memory, including, but not limited to, EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic disk drive, and/or optical disk drive. The storage device 306 may include an internal storage device, an attached storage device, and/or a network accessible storage device, as non-limiting examples. In addition, the one or more processors 304 may communicate with and control the various functions and components of the video gateway 206 via a control bus 307 as shown in FIG. 3. [0044] Program code to be loaded onto the one or more processors 304 to perform the various processes described herewith may be stored in the storage device 306 and be subsequently loaded onto the memory 305 for execution by the one or more processors 304. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the one or more of the processors 304, the memory 305, and the storage device 306 may store one or more items during the performance of the processes discussed herewith, including, but not limited to the input video, the decoded video, the bitstream, equations, formulas, matrices, variables, operations, operational logic, and any additional content decryption mechanisms as needed.

[0045] The exemplary embodiments may be carried out by computer software implemented by the one or more processors 304 or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software. As a non-limiting example, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented by one or more integrated circuits. The memory 305 may be of any type appropriate to the technical environment and may be implemented using any appropriate data storage technology, such as optical memory devices, magnetic memory devices, semiconductor-based memory devices, fixed memory, and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. The at least one processor 304 may be of any type appropriate to the technical environment, and may encompass one or more of microprocessors, general purpose computers, special purpose computers, and processors based on a multi-core architecture, as non-limiting examples.

[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method 400 performed by a video gateway 206 shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present arrangements. At 401, the method 400 provides for connecting with a wide area network, such as the internet, via a network interface 301 and receiving a video program from a video content provider through the wide area network 209. At 402, the method 400 provides for connecting with a wireless router 207 via a wireless interface 302 and sending signaling information to a video receiver 204-1 to 204-n through the wireless router 207. At 403, the method 400 provides for connecting with a modulator 203 via a modulator interface 303. At 404, the method 400 provides, via at least one processor 304, the signaling information to the video receiver 204-1 to 204-n via the wireless interface 302 and the wireless router 207, wherein the signaling information indicates at least a frequency to which the video receiver 204- 1 to 204-n is tuned for receiving the requested video program. At 405, the method 405 provides, via the at least one processor 304, the requested video program from the wide area network 209 to the video receiver 204-1 to 204-n via the modulator interface 303 connected with the modulator 203. In an example embodiment, the requested video program is a requested OTT video program or video content.

[0047] While the present arrangements are described using an example QAM modulation/demodulator and MPEG-2 transport streams, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other kinds of modulations/modulators may be equally usable and many different types of transport protocols are also usable. Therefore, for example, VSB modulators, QPSK modulators, OFDM modulators, other modulators, and their equivalents are all within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, for example, IP signaling transport streams, DVB transport streams, MPEG-4 transport streams, ARIB transport streams, other transport streams, and their equivalents may also be used and are within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many types of video compression schemes may also be used instead of the exemplary MPEG2 or MPEG4 compression standard described herewith. Other such examples of video compression technologies include and are not limited to e.g., VP9, HEVC, JEM (Joint Exploration Model being developed by the Joint Video Exploration Team), and the like.

[0048] The implementations described herein may be implemented in, for example, a method or a process, an apparatus, and a software program, and etc. Even if only discussed in the context of a single form of implementation (for example, discussed only as a method), the implementation of features discussed may also be implemented in other forms (for example, an apparatus or a program). An apparatus may be implemented in, for example, appropriate hardware, software, and firmware. The methods may be implemented in, for example, an apparatus such as, for example, a processor, which refers to processing devices in general, including, for example, a computer, a microprocessor, an integrated circuit, or a programmable logic device. Processors may also include communication devices, such as, for example, computers, cell phones, portable/personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), and other devices that facilitate communication of information between end-users.

[0049] Reference to“one embodiment” or“an embodiment” or“one implementation” or“an implementation”, as well as other variations thereof, mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” or“in one implementation” or“in an implementation”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Yet, the features of one embodiment may be included in other embodiments unless otherwise specified.

[0050] Additionally, this application or its claims may refer to“determining” various pieces of information. Determining the information may include one or more of, for example, estimating the information, calculating the information, predicting the information, or retrieving the information from memory.

[0051] Further, this application or its claims may refer to “accessing” various pieces of information. Accessing the information may include one or more of, for example, receiving the information, retrieving the information (for example, from memory), storing the information, moving the information, copying the information, calculating the information, predicting the information, or estimating the information.

[0052] Additionally, this application or its claims may refer to“receiving” various pieces of information. Receiving is, as with“accessing”, intended to be a broad term. Receiving the information may include one or more of, for example, accessing the information, or retrieving the information (for example, from memory). Further,“receiving” is typically involved, in one way or another, during operations such as, for example, storing the information, processing the information, transmitting the information, moving the information, copying the information, erasing the information, calculating the information, determining the information, predicting the information, or estimating the information.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface (301) configured to connect with a wide area network (209) and to receive a video program through the wide area network (209);

a wireless interface (302) configured to connect with a wireless router (207) and to send signaling information to a signaling receiver (204-1 to 204-n) through the wireless router (207); a modulator interface (303) configured to connect with a modulator (203); and at least one processor (304) configured to:

provide the signaling information to the signaling receiver (204-1 to 204-n) via the wireless interface (302) and the wireless router (207), wherein the signaling information indicates at least one frequency the signaling receiver (204-1 to 204-n) is tuned for receiving the received video program; and

provide the received video program from the wide area network to the signaling receiver (204-1 to 204-n) using the modulator interface (303).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modulator interface is configured to perform at least one of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation, quadrature phase shift keying modulation (QPSK), or orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

3. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the signaling receiver is one of a smart phone, a laptop computer, or a set-top box.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the signaling information comprises a packet identification indicating a packet stream containing the received video program.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide, via the modulator interface, the packet identification to the modulator for encapsulating the received video program in the packet stream using the packet identification at the modulator.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide, via the modulator interface, the frequency to the modulator for modulating the received video program.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a request from the signaling receiver for viewing a video program via the wireless interface and the wireless router.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one processor is configured to send via the network interface the request for viewing the video program from the signaling receiver to a video content provider.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 -7, wherein the modulator is configured to connect to the signaling receiver and to transmit the received video program using a cable wire.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the modulator is configured to multiplex video programs received from a signal receiver with the received video program into a multiplexed stream and to transmit the multiplexed stream to the signaling receiver.

11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the wide area network is an internet network.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the wireless network is a WiFi network.

13. A method performed by an apparatus, comprising:

connecting (401 ) with a wide area network via a network interface and receiving a video program through the wide area network; connecting (402) with a wireless router via a wireless interface and sending signaling information to a signaling receiver through the wireless router;

connecting (403) with a modulator via a modulator interface;

providing (404), via at least one processor, the signaling information to the signaling receiver via the wireless interface and the wireless router, wherein the signaling information indicates at least a frequency for which the signaling receiver is tuned for receiving the received video program; and

providing (405), via the at least one processor, the received video program from the wide area network to the signaling receiver via the modulator interface.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein connecting with a modulator via a modulator interface comprises connecting with the modulator using a modulator interface accommodating one of quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation, quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation, or orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM).

15. The method of any one of claims 13-14, wherein providing the signaling information comprises a packet identification indicating a packet stream containing the received video program.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising providing via the at least one processor, the packet identification to the modulator via the modulator interface for encapsulating the received video program in the packet stream using the packet identification at the modulator.

17. The method of any one of claims 13-16, comprising providing via the at least one processor, the frequency to the modulator via the modulator interface for modulating the received video program.

18. The method of any one of claims 13-17, comprising receiving via the at least one processor, a request from the signaling receiver for viewing a video program via the wireless interface and the wireless router.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising sending via the network interface, the request for viewing the video program from the signaling receiver to the video content provider.

20. A computer program product comprising computing instructions stored on a non- transitory computer storage media to be executed by one or more processors configured to implement the method of any one of claims 13 to 19.