APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING A WIRELESS TELEVISION SYSTEM
An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a wireless television system may include a communications processor and a transmitter device that combine at least one of a local-area network interface, a wide-area network interface, and one or more television data interfaces for effectively performing a wireless network transmission process. A transmitted stream from the wireless television system may be received via wireless network processing for viewing local-area network data, wide-area network data (such as Internet data), or television data by flexibly utilizing various electronic devices such as a notepad personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a handheld TV remote control device.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A system comprising:
a network interface configured to receive a broadcast stream generated by a base station over a network, the broadcast stream including program information from a selected one of a plurality of program sources associated with the base station;
a display controller configured to display the program information on a display; and
an input module configured to generate control information in response to user inputs to the display system, wherein the control information is configured to select and control the selected one of the plurality of program sources associated with the base station, and to supply the control information to the network interface for transmission to the base station.
22 . The system of claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of program sources is an audio/video component that is connected to a switcher associated with the base station.
23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the control information comprises a first instruction based upon a first user input to the display system to select the selected program source from the plurality of program sources associated with the base station.
24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the control information comprises a second instruction based upon a second user input to the display system to control the selected program source.
25 . The system of claim 24 wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to change a channel of the selected program source.
26 . The system of claim 24 wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to direct the selected program source to play a pre-recorded program.
27 . The system of claim 26 wherein the control information comprises a third instruction to select the pre-recorded program on the selected program source.
28 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive the broadcast stream at least in part over a wireless network.
29 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive the broadcast stream at least in part over a wired network.
30 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive the broadcast stream at least in part over a local area network.
31 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive the broadcast stream at least in part over a wide area network.
32 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the network interface is configured to receive the broadcast stream at least in part over a packet switched network.
33 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is implemented within a personal computer.
34 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is implemented within a notepad computer.
35 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the system is implemented within a personal digital assistant.
36 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the display comprises a television.
37 . A display system to present a broadcast stream on a display to a user, wherein the broadcast stream is generated by a base station from program information obtained from a selected one of a plurality of audio/video program sources that are connected to the base station via a switcher, the display system comprising:
a network interface configured to receive the broadcast stream from the base station via a network;
a display controller configured to display the program information on a display; and
an input module configured to generate control information in response to inputs received from the user and to supply the control information to the network interface for transmission to the base station, wherein the control information comprises a first instruction in response to a first input from the user that directs the switcher to select the selected one of the plurality of audio/video program sources and a second instruction in response to a second input from the user that directs the base station to control the selected one of the plurality of audio/video program sources to thereby change the broadcast stream.
38 . The display system of claim 37 wherein one of the plurality of audio/video program sources is a television tuner, and wherein the second instruction is configured to direct the base station to control the television tuner and thereby change a channel provided by the television tuner.
39 . The display system of claim 37 wherein one of the plurality of audio/video program sources is a digital video recorder, and wherein the second instruction is configured to direct the base station to control the digital video recorder and thereby play a selected program that is recorded on the digital video recorder.
40 . The display system of claim 37 wherein one of the plurality of audio/video program sources is a media player, and wherein the second instruction is configured to direct the base station to direct the media player to play a pre-recorded program.
41 . A method executable by a client device comprising:
receiving, at the client device, a broadcast stream generated by a base station over a network, the broadcast stream including program information from a selected one of a plurality of program sources associated with the base station;
displaying the program information on a display;
receiving user inputs to change the broadcast stream at the client device;
generating control information at the client device in response to the user inputs to thereby select and control the selected one of the plurality of program sources associated with the base station; and
supplying the control information from the client device to the base station via the network to control the selected one of the plurality of program sources and to thereby change the broadcast stream generated by the base station.
42 . The method of claim 41 further comprising providing the program information for presentation on a supplemental display.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the control information comprises a first instruction based upon a first one of the user inputs to select the selected program source from the plurality of program sources associated with the base station.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the control information comprises a second instruction based upon a second one of the user inputs to the display system to control the selected program source.
45 . The method of claim 44 wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to change a channel of the selected program source.
46 . The method of claim 44 wherein the second instruction comprises an instruction to direct the selected program source to play a pre-recorded program.
47 . The method of claim 46 wherein the control information comprises a third instruction to select the pre-recorded program on the selected program source.