Wireless set-top unit and related methods
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a set-top box capable of delivering television, internet service, video phone service, video-on-demand, and other media services to a consumer. One portion of the set-top box interacts with a CDMA network for the purpose of receiving wireless internet, video-on-demand, videophone and other IP services. Another portion of the device is satellite-enabled. The satellite portion of the device enables the user to also receive satellite service. Because the set-top box works to receive satellite programming and wireless CDMA network communications, it is not terrestrially-bound. This means it is not bound to be included within a cable, telephone, or other wired circuit network.
1. A system for accessing video data via satellite and wireless signals, comprising:
a satellite signal receiver;
a satellite digital-to-analog converter;
a wireless signal receiver, comprising a singular wireless interface which is operational with a wireless networking card and a computing device;
a wireless digital-to-analog decoder;
a junction device configured to receive a satellite analog signal and a wireless analog signal; and
a display device for viewing video programming derived from at least one of said satellite analog signal and wireless analog signal.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless signal receiver is adapted to be included in a CDMA network.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless signal receiver comprises a first wireless interface.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said first wireless interface comprises an aircard.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said aircard is a Type-II PCMCIA card.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said aircard cooperates with a video card and a scan converter to convert said wireless signal into a first analog signal which will be recognizable by a television.
7. The system of claim 3 comprising:
a computing device having a memory component and a processing component, said computing device being accessible through said first wireless interface.
8. The system of claim 1 comprising:
a wireless keyboard for interfacing with said computing device through said singular wireless interface.
9. The system of claim 1 comprising:
a wireless mouse for interfacing with said computing device through said singular wireless interface.
10. The system of claim 1 comprising:
a wireless camera for interfacing with said computing device through said singular wireless interface enabling video telephony.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless networking card creates a wireless local area network.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein said wireless local area network is one of a 802.11b and a 802.11g local area network.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein said satellite signal receiver and said wireless signal receiver are both included in a set-top box.
14. A method of providing satellite and video-on-demand service to a consumer comprising:
transmitting video programming using a satellite;
converting said video programming using a satellite from a digital signal to an analog signal;
transmitting video programming over a wireless network connection;
decoding said video programming over a wireless network connection from a digital signal to an analog signal;
combining said analog signal using a satellite with said analog signal over a wireless network connection into a junction device;
providing said consumer with a satellite signal receiver which enables said consumer to view said satellite video programming transmitted using said satellite; and
providing said consumer with a wireless signal receiver, comprising a singular wireless interface that is operational with a wireless networking card and a computing device, which enables said consumer to view said wireless video programming transmitted over said wireless network.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said transmitting video programming over a wireless network connection is accomplished by directing said programming over a wireless CDMA network.
16. The method of claim 14 comprising:
providing said consumer with an aircard;
enabling said consumer to receive said programming through said aircard.
17. The method of claim 16 comprising:
selecting a Type-II PCMCIA card to comprise the aircard.
18. The method of claim 14 comprising:
converting said satellite and wireless transmissions to analog so that they may be viewed over a television.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
said computing device operates remotely through said singular wireless interface using one of a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, and a wireless camera.
20. A set top box for a television comprising:
a first wireless interface, which is operational with a wireless networking card and a computing device for receiving data files via a digital wireless signal comprising a video program;
a converting system for converting said digital wireless signal into analog so that the video program may be viewed on a television;
a satellite receiving device for receiving data files via a digital satellite signal comprising a video program;
a decoding system for decoding said digital satellite signal into an analog signal so that the video program may be viewed on a television; and
a combining system for combining said wireless analog signal and said satellite analog signal.
21. The set-top box of claim 20 wherein said first wireless interface is adapted to allow interfacing through a CDMA network.
22. The set-top box of claim 20 comprising:
a wireless keyboard for interfacing with said computing device through said first wireless interface.
23. The set-top box of claim 20 comprising:
a wireless mouse for interfacing with said computing device through said first wireless interface.
24. The system of claim 20 comprising:
a wireless camera for interfacing with said computing device through said first wireless interface enabling video telephony.