Radio frequency audio/video switch and internet protocol distribution appliance
A switched radio frequency (RF) and Internet Protocol (IP) audio/video processing and distribution appliance that enables virtually any format of audio/video to be received, decrypted, transcoded, encrypted and distributed over a high speed IP backplane and output or modulated in a variety of formats. The system minimizes the number of points of failure to provide an extremely robust and cost effective solution for MDU and hospitality markets both in terms of initial cost and long-term maintenance costs.
1. A switched RF and IP audio/video processing and distribution appliance comprising:
a radio frequency L Band switch configured to receive a plurality of radio frequency signals from a respective plurality of Low Noise Blocks coupled with at least one external satellite dish;
a plurality of satellite receivers coupled with said radio frequency L Band switch wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to receive radio frequency signals determined by said L Band switch;
an Internet Protocol bus coupled with said plurality of satellite receivers and configured to communicate digital information output from said plurality of satellite receivers with Internet Protocol;
at least one output modulator configured to receive said information in said Internet Protocol and output said information in a predetermined signal format compatible with a first type of audio/visual equipment;
a controller coupled with at least said radio frequency L Band switch and configured to select the specific plurality of radio frequency signals from said plurality of Low Noise Blocks to provide to said plurality of satellite receivers; and,
a chassis configured to hold said radio frequency L Band switch, said plurality of satellite receivers, said Internet Protocol bus, said at least one output modulator and said controller.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency L Band switch is configured to output said plurality of radio frequency signals at a fixed set of frequencies for each of said plurality of satellite receivers.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency L Band switch comprises at least one power detector coupled with an A/D converter to output a visual indication of power associated with a satellite input.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to demodulate said radio frequency signals.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to demultiplex data associated with said radio frequency signals into Single-Program Transport Streams.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to decrypt said Single-Program Transport Streams, transcode said Single-Program Transport Streams into a different format, and encrypt said different format.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a QAM/8VSB receiver configured to receive off-air radio frequency television signals or signals from a cable modem, wherein said QAM/8VSB receiver is coupled with said Internet Protocol bus.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one output modulator comprises a QAM output processor.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one output modulator comprises a QAM output processor comprising a QAMx output and a QAM demodulator, wherein said QAMx output is coupled with said QAM demodulator and utilized to display a view of power on an output channel.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one output modulator comprises an NTSC output processor.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one output modulator comprises a media server configured to provide rich guide content and programs to thin clients over Internet Protocol.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one output modulator comprises a wireless modem, or a 3G or a 4G or an LTE modem.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
an SPTS input configured to receive a Welcome Channel, security feed or advertisement feed.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to select a particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers as a master and switch said master if said particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers fails.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one temperature sensor within said chassis and coupled with said controller and wherein said controller is configured to command said at least one of said plurality of satellite receivers to stop processing at least one of said radio frequency signals if said at least one temperature sensor detects a temperature over a predefined temperature value.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one fan within said chassis having a speed sensor coupled with said controller and wherein said controller is configured to command said at least one of said plurality of satellite receivers to stop processing at least one of said radio frequency signals if said speed sensor detects a speed under a predefined speed value.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:
wherein at least one of said radio frequency signals is assigned a priority and wherein said priority is utilized to determine which of said radio frequency signals to continue to process in case of
bandwidth or processing overload of any component within said chassis, or
if a temperature within said chassis exceeds a predefined temperature value or
a speed of a fan within said chassis falls beneath a predefined speed value.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one power supply coupled with at least said plurality of satellite receivers and said at least one output component and wherein said at least one power supply is hot-swappable.
19. A switched RF and IP audio/video processing and distribution appliance comprising:
a radio frequency L Band switch configured to receive a plurality of radio frequency signals from a respective plurality of Low Noise Blocks coupled with at least one external satellite dish;
a plurality of satellite receivers coupled with said radio frequency L Band switch wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to receive radio frequency signals determined by said L Band switch;
at least one QAM/8VSB receiver configured to receive off-air radio frequency television signals;
an Internet Protocol bus coupled with said plurality of satellite receivers and said at least one QAM/8VSB receiver and configured to communicate digital information output from said plurality of satellite receivers and said QAM/8VSB receiver with Internet Protocol;
at least one output modulator configured to receive said information in said Internet Protocol and output said information in a predetermined signal format compatible with a first type of audio/visual equipment;
a controller coupled with at least said radio frequency L Band switch and configured to select the specific plurality of radio frequency signals from said plurality of Low Noise Blocks to provide to said plurality of satellite receivers and further configured to select a particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers as a master and switch said master if said particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers fails; and,
a chassis configured to hold said radio frequency L Band switch, said plurality of satellite receivers, said Internet Protocol bus, said at least one output modulator and said controller.
20. A switched RF and IP audio/video processing and distribution appliance comprising:
a radio frequency L Band switch configured to receive a plurality of radio frequency signals from a respective plurality of Low Noise Blocks coupled with at least one external satellite dish, wherein said radio frequency L Band switch is configured to output said plurality of radio frequency signals at a fixed set of frequencies;
a plurality of satellite receivers coupled with said radio frequency L Band switch wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to receive radio frequency signals determined by said L Band switch at said fixed set of frequencies and wherein said plurality of satellite receivers are configured to
demultiplex data associated with said radio frequency signals into Single-Program Transport Streams,
decrypt said Single-Program Transport Streams,
transcode said Single-Program Transport Streams into a different format,
encrypt said Single-Program Transport Streams;
at least one QAM/8VSB receiver configured to receive off-air radio frequency television signals;
an SPTS input configured to receive a Welcome Channel, security feed or advertisement feed;
an Internet Protocol bus coupled with said plurality of satellite receivers, said at least one QAM/8VSB receiver and said SPTS input and configured to communicate digital information output from said plurality of satellite receivers, said QAM/8VSB receiver and said SPTS input with Internet Protocol;
at least one output modulator configured to receive said information in said Internet Protocol and output said information in a predetermined signal format compatible with a first type of audio/visual equipment wherein said predetermined signal format comprises QAM, NTSC, Internet Protocol or a wireless communication format;
a controller coupled with at least said radio frequency L Band switch and configured to select the specific plurality of radio frequency signals from said plurality of Low Noise Blocks to provide to said plurality of satellite receivers and further configured to select a particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers as a master and switch said master if said particular one of said plurality of satellite receivers fails;
at least one temperature sensor within said chassis and coupled with said controller and wherein said controller is configured to command said at least one of said plurality of satellite receivers to stop processing at least one of said radio frequency signals if said at least one temperature sensor detects a temperature over a predefined temperature value;
at least one fan within said chassis having a speed sensor coupled with said controller and wherein said controller is configured to command said at least one of said plurality of satellite receivers to stop processing at least one of said radio frequency signals if said speed sensor detects a speed under a predefined speed value;
wherein at least one of said radio frequency signals is assigned a priority and wherein said priority is utilized to determine which of said radio frequency signals to continue to process in case of
bandwidth or processing overload of any component within said chassis, or
if a temperature within said chassis exceeds a predefined temperature value or
a speed of a fan within said chassis falls beneath a predefined speed value;
at least one power supply coupled with at least said plurality of satellite receivers and said at least one output component and wherein said at least one power supply is hot-swappable; and,
a chassis configured to hold said radio frequency L Band switch, said plurality of satellite receivers, said Internet Protocol bus, said at least one output modulator and said controller.