Method for switching signal input based on device capability

1. A method comprising:

receiving a digital signal at a digital input terminal of a device;

receiving an analog signal at an analog input terminal of the device, said analog signal is derived from said digital signal;

examining whether the digital signal is in an eligible format for the device;

selecting the digital signal by a selector if the digital signal is in the eligible format for a decoder to decode the digital signal,

otherwise selecting the analog signal, as an input for the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal and the analog signal are received simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying one of the digital signal and the analog signal on a monitor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving one of the digital signal and the analog signal at a speaker.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a digital signal at a digital input terminal of a device;

receiving an analog signal at an analog input terminal of the device, said analog signal is derived from said digital signal;

determining whether the device is capable of decoding the digital signal;

selecting the digital signal by a selector if the device is capable of decoding the digital signal by a decoder, otherwise selecting the analog signal, as input for the device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein

the digital signal and the analog signal are received simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising displaying one of the digital signal and the analog signal on a monitor ( 126 ).

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising receiving one of the digital signal and the analog signal at a speaker.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a first digital input/output terminal and a second digital input/output terminal;

an analog input terminal and a analog output terminal;

an interface coupled with the first digital input/output terminal;

a decoder coupled with the interface; and

a selector which selects the second digital input terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding a digital signal, otherwise selects the analog input terminal to receive an analog signal that is derived from the digital signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a monitor having a display and at least one speaker.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the memory is configuration ROM.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the signal capability list is static.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein

the selector comprises

a controller having means for determining whether the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal; and

a switch controlled by the controller so as to select the first digital input/output terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal, otherwise to select the analog input terminal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the switch switches between an output of the decoder and the analog input terminal as a source of an input signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the digital signal format is dynamic.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein an isochronous connection is established with a device transmitting a signal upon signal selection.

20. A system comprising:

a first digital input/output terminal,

an analog output terminal,

a receiver coupled between an antenna and the first digital input/output terminal, and

a decoder coupled between the analog output terminal and the receiver;

a second digital input/output terminal,

an analog input terminal,

an interface coupled with the second digital input/output terminal,

a decoder coupled with the interface, and

a selector which selects the second digital input terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding a digital signal, otherwise selects the analog input terminal to receive an analog signal that is derived from the digital signal.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the receiver is capable of receiving signals in DSS-SD format and DSS-HD format.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the decoder is limited to decoding DSS-SD signals.

23. The system of claim 20 , further including a memory.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the memory is configuration ROM.

25. The system of claim 23 , wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.

26. The system of claim 23 , wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the signal capability list is static.

28. The system of claim 20 , further comprising:

a monitor ( 126 ) having a display and at least one speaker.

29. The system of claim 28 , further including a memory.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the memory is configuration ROM.

31. The system of claim 29 , wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.

32. The system of claim 29 , wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the signal capability list is static.

34. The system of claim 20 , wherein the selector further comprises

a controller having means for determining whether the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal; and

a switch controlled by the controller so as to select the second digital input/output terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal, otherwise to select the analog input terminal.

35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the switch switches between an output of the decoder and the analog input terminal as a source of an input signal.

36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the digital signal format is dynamic.

37. The system of claim 34 , wherein an isochronous connection is established with a device transmitting a signal upon signal selection.