Video receiver architecture for digital subscriber line networks

1. A customer-side receiver unit, comprising:

a CPE (customer premises equipment) unit provided at a customer premises to enable access to an access network over a communications channel, the CPE unit comprising:

a network interface module which is coupled to the communications channel to receive multiplexed information in the form of one or more of voice, data and streaming content from the access network, and which separates the streaming content from the voice information and data information;

a transport layer termination module coupled to the network interface module, which terminates layers of protocol associated with the information;

a transport converter which converts streaming content to a format usable by a local network; and

a dedicated stream port coupled to the transport converter to output the streaming content to the local network, wherein the dedicated stream port is configured to transmit control data between devices that receive the streaming content from the dedicated stream port.

2. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the access network includes an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network and wherein the network interface module includes ATM layer protocol termination.

3. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the access network provides TCP/IP based protocols and wherein the network interface module includes TCP/IP layer protocol termination.

4. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a user control processor, which processes user control signals for controlling local network devices.

5. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 4 , wherein the transport converter provides a control channel to transport data to and from the local network to control and communicate with network devices.

6. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 4 , wherein the user control signals are transmitted to the access network for interaction with external devices and services.

7. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the transport converter supports IEEE 1394 based protocols and the dedicated stream port is a 1394 interface.

8. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a twisted pair interface coupled to the network interface module for receiving at least one of voice, data and streaming content from a digital subscriber line based head-end network.

9. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an audio-video transport and decompression module for decompressing the streaming content and outputting decompressed streaming content to an output device.

10. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a set top box for receiving user control signals for controlling network devices.

11. The receiver unit, as recited in claim 1 , wherein the local network is a home network.

12. A method for providing a data stream to a plurality of devices in a local network, comprising the steps of:

connecting a CPE (customer premises equipment) unit to a public access network over a communications channel;

the CPE unit receiving multiplexed information in the form of one or more of voice, data and streaming content from the access network and separating the steaming content from the voice information and data information;

the CPE unit converting the streaming content to a format compatible with a local network;

the CPE unit distributing the steaming content to a plurality of devices on the local network over a dedicated stream port of the CPE unit for simultaneous use by the plurality of devices; and

the CPE unit transmitting, through the dedicated stream port, control data between devices that receive the streaming content from the dedicated stream port.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the access network includes an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network and wherein receiving multiplexed information includes the CPE unit terminating the ATM layer protocol.

14. The method, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the access network provides TCP/IP based protocols and wherein receiving multiplexed information includes the CPE unit terminating the TCP/IP layer protocol.

15. The method, as recited in claim 12 , wherein the access network provides IEEE 1394 based protocols and wherein receiving multiplexed information includes the CPE unit terminating the 1394 layer protocols.

16. The method, as recited in claim 12 , further comprising the CPE unit processing user control signals for controlling local network devices.

17. The meted, as recited in claim 16 , further comprising the CPE unit transporting the control signals to and from the local network to control and communicate with network devices.

18. The method, as recited in claim 16 , further comprising controlling network devices on the access network by the user control signals.

19. The method, as recited in claim 12 , further comprising the CPE unit decompressing the streaming content and outputting decompressed streaming content to an output device.