Apparatuses and methods for tuning a frequency conversion device and processing a signal

1 . An apparatus for tuning a frequency conversion device, comprising:

a channel identifier configured to identify a first channel to which a receiver is tuned;

a channel cross-referencer coupled to said channel identifier and configured to cross-reference said first channel with a second channel; and

a frequency conversion device tuner coupled to said channel cross-referencer and configured to tune the frequency conversion device to said second channel;

wherein said first channel is defined by a first signal providing system and said second channel is defined by a second signal providing system.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel identifier identifies a carrier frequency of said first channel from a leakage of an electromagnetic energy from a receiver tuner of said receiver.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said leakage of said electromagnetic energy is from a local oscillator of said receiver tuner.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said channel identifier comprises:

a second receiver configured to receive said leakage of said electromagnetic energy;

a processor coupled to said second receiver and configured to derive a frequency domain distribution of said electromagnetic energy; and

an identifier coupled to said processor and configured to identify said carrier frequency from said frequency domain distribution.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said channel identifier further comprises:

a converter coupled to said second receiver and configured to convert said electromagnetic energy to a different format.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel identifier identifies a carrier frequency of said first channel from an electromagnetic signal transmitted from a remote control unit for said receiver.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said channel identifier comprises:

a second receiver configured to receive said electromagnetic signal;

a processor coupled to said second receiver and configured to derive a frequency domain distribution of said electromagnetic signal; and

an identifier coupled to said processor and configured to identify said carrier frequency from said frequency domain distribution.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said channel identifier further comprises:

a converter coupled to said second receiver and configured to convert said electromagnetic signal to a different format.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said channel cross-referencer comprises:

a port coupled to said channel identifier and configured to receive first data that identifies said first channel;

a processor coupled to said port and configured to produce second data that identifies said second channel; and

a memory coupled to said processor and configured to store said second data.

10 . An apparatus for processing a signal, comprising:

an input port configured to receive the signal;

a signal format identifier coupled to said input port and configured to identify the signal as having one of a first format and a second format;

a switch coupled to said signal format identifier;

a converter coupled to said switch and configured to convert the signal from said first format to said second format;

an output port coupled to said converter and configured to produce the signal; and

a bypass signal path coupled between said output port and said switch and configured to convey the signal;

wherein said first format is one of an analog format and a digital format and said second format is one of said analog format and said digital format, but different from said first format.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a mixer coupled to said output port and configured to convert the signal from being centered at a first frequency to being centered at a second frequency.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a demodulator coupled to said converter and configured to demodulate the signal; and

an encoder coupled to said demodulator and configured to encode the signal.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a mixer coupled to said demodulator and configured to convert the signal from being centered at a first frequency to being centered at a second frequency.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

a demultiplexer coupled to said demodulator and configured to demultiplex the signal to a first channel and to a second channel; and

a filter coupled to said encoder and configured to isolate said first channel from said second channel.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

a combiner coupled to said encoder and configured to combine said first channel with said second channel.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said signal format identifier determines if an energy within a frequency band of the signal is greater than a threshold energy.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said signal format identifier comprises:

a filter configured to isolate said energy within said frequency band;

a comparer coupled to said filter and configured to compare said energy within said frequency band with said threshold energy; and

a controller coupled to said comparer and configured to position said switch.

18 . A method for tuning a frequency conversion device, comprising the steps of:

(1) identifying a first channel to which a receiver is tuned;

(2) cross-referencing the first channel with a second channel; and

(3) tuning the frequency conversion device to the second channel;

wherein the first channel is defined by a first signal providing system and the second channel is defined by a second signal providing system.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said identifying the first channel step comprises the step of:

(1) identifying a carrier frequency of the first channel to which the receiver is tuned from a leakage of an electromagnetic energy from a receiver tuner of the receiver.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the electromagnetic energy is at a radio frequency.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said identifying the carrier frequency step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving the leakage of the electromagnetic energy;

(b) deriving a frequency domain distribution of the electromagnetic energy; and

(c) identifying the carrier frequency from the frequency domain distribution.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said identifying the carrier frequency further comprises the step of:

(d) converting the electromagnetic energy to a digital format.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said identifying the first channel step comprises the step of:

(1) identifying a carrier frequency of the first channel to which the receiver is tuned from an electromagnetic signal transmitted from a remote control unit for the receiver.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the electromagnetic signal is at an infrared frequency.

25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein said identifying the carrier frequency step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving the electromagnetic signal;

(b) deriving a frequency domain distribution of the electromagnetic signal; and

(c) identifying the carrier frequency from the frequency domain distribution.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein said identifying the carrier frequency step further comprises the step of:

(d) converting the electromagnetic signal to a digital format.

27 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said cross-referencing step comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving first data that identifies the first channel;

(b) cross-referencing the first data with second data that identifies the second channel; and

(c) producing the second data.

28 . A method for processing a signal, comprising the steps of:

(1) identifying the signal as having one of a first format and a second format; and

(2) converting, if said identified signal has the first format, said identified signal from the first format to the second format.

wherein the first format is one of an analog format and a digital format and the second format is one of the analog format and the digital format, but different from the first format.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal.

30 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising the step of:

(3) conveying, if said identified signal has the second format, said identified signal.

31 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising the step of:

(3) converting the signal from being centered at a first frequency to being centered at a second frequency.

32 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising the steps of:

(3) demodulating the signal; and

(4) encoding the signal.

33 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising the step of:

(5) converting the signal from being centered at a first frequency to being centered at a second frequency.

34 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising the steps of:

(5) demultiplexing the signal to a first channel and to a second channel; and

(6) isolating the first channel from the second channel.

35 . The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of:

(7) combining the first channel with the second channel.

36 . The method of claim 28 , wherein said identifying step comprises the step of:

(1) determining if an energy within a frequency band of the signal is greater than a threshold energy.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the frequency band is within a channel of the signal.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said determining step comprises the steps of:

(a) isolating the energy within the frequency band; and

(b) comparing the energy within the frequency band with the threshold energy.