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 multiple network service system, comprising:
a satellite service component for receiving a satellite downlink signal;
a wireless IP component, comprising a wireless modem for sending and receiving a wireless signal via a wireless network, wherein the wireless signal is received from a transceiver tower via the wireless modem;
an Internet component;
a set-top box for receiving the satellite downlink signal, the wireless signal, and data from the Internet component;
a microcomputer for controlling the set-top box; and
a television networking arrangement for serving audio and video content via the set-top box.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless IP component enables interfacing between the microcomputer and an IP wireless service provider.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless IP component enables streaming of the audio and video content.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless IP component enables access to the Internet component.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless modem comprises an aircard.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) network.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing interface comprises a wireless networking card.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a junction device for combining multiple signals to be delivered to the television networking arrangement.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a computing interface for interfacing external computer accessories with the microcomputer.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising: real-time communication between a local user of the multiple network service system and a remote user of a second multiple network service system.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the real-time communication comprises sharing the audio and video content between the local user and the remote user.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the real-time communication comprises a video conferencing arrangement.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computing interface and the wireless modem comprise a singular wireless interface.
14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, facilitate a method of providing multiple network services, the method comprising:
receiving a downlink satellite signal into a set-top box system;
receiving a wireless IP signal from a transceiver tower into the set-top box system;
receiving data via an Internet connection into the set-top box system;
serving audio and video content from the downlink satellite signal, the wireless signal, and the Internet connection via the set-top box system; and
receiving a wireless IP signal from a user in a remote location into the set-top box system.
15. The media of claim 14 , further comprising receiving a video communication into the set-top box system from a remote set-top box system.
16. The media of claim 15 , wherein the receiving a video communication comprises real-time communication between a first user of the set-top box system and a second user of the remote set-top box system.
17. The media of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting video programming to a user device.
18. A method of providing multiple network services, comprising:
receiving a downlink satellite signal into a set-top box system comprising a set-top box;
receiving a wireless IP signal from a transceiver tower into the set-top box system;
receiving data via an Internet connection into the set-top box system;
serving audio and video content from the downlink satellite signal, the wireless signal, and the Internet connection via the set-top box system; and
receiving a wireless IP signal from a user in a remote location into the set-top box system.