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 service set top box, comprising:
a wireless interface that provides streaming of audio and video content and provides internet access via a wireless IP signal;
a satellite receiving device that receives data files via a satellite signal;
a converting system that converts the wireless IP signal from a digital signal to an analog signal;
a decoding system that decodes the satellite signal from a digital signal to an analog signal;
a combining system that combines the analog signals from the converting system and the decoding system; and
a microcomputer that controls and processes the multiple service set top box.
2. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , further comprising a video component used in conjunction with a display device for viewing video programming from the received data files.
3. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface comprises an air card connection.
4. The multiple service set top box of claim 3 , wherein the streaming of audio and video content is downloaded into a memory component of the microcomputer.
5. The multiple service set top box of claim 3 , wherein the air card connection comprises a singular wireless interface that provides audio and video content to a display device and that provides interfacing to the microcomputer.
6. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface provides interfacing with a CDMA network.
7. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface provides a connection to a PCMCIA card.
8. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , wherein the wireless interface provides an interface to one of a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, and a wireless camera.
9. The multiple service set top box of claim 1 , wherein the combining system comprises a junction of analog signals from multiple sources.
10. One or more computer-storage media containing computer readable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method of providing multiple network services to a user, the method comprising:
receiving video and audio programming from a satellite system to a satellite receiver;
converting the video and audio programming from a digital signal to an analog signal via the satellite receiver;
receiving video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal from a transceiver tower to a wireless modem;
converting the video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal from a digital signal to an analog signal via a scan converter;
combining the analog signals from the satellite receiver and the scan converter into a junction device;
delivering the combined analog signals into a television network for viewing on a display device; and
controlling and processing the method via a microcomputer.
11. The computer-storage media of claim 10 , further comprising downloading the received video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal into a memory component of the microcomputer.
12. The computer-storage media of claim 10 , further comprising interfacing with the microcomputer via a computer interface to one of a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, and a wireless camera.
13. The computer-storage media of claim 12 , wherein the wireless modem and the computer interface comprise a singular wireless interface which is configured to connect with a wireless networking card and the microcomputer.
14. The computer-storage media of claim 12 , further comprising displaying interactions with the user via the computer interface onto a television.
15. The computer-storage media of claim 10 , further comprising converting the video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal from a computer scan rate to a television scan rate via the scan converter.
16. The computer-storage media of claim 10 , wherein the IP wireless signal provides internet access.
17. The computer-storage media of claim 10 , wherein the satellite receiver, the wireless modem, the scan converter, the junction device, and the microcomputer are contained within a set top box.
18. The computer-storage media of claim 17 , wherein the set top box can be connected to a cable television network.
19. The computer-storage media of claim 17 , further comprising communicating the multiple network services from the user at a first location to a second set top box at a second location.
20. A method of providing multiple network services to a user, comprising:
receiving video and audio programming from a satellite system to a satellite receiver;
converting the video and audio programming from a digital signal to an analog signal via the satellite receiver;
receiving video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal from a transceiver tower to a wireless modem;
converting the video and audio programming via an IP wireless signal from a digital signal to an analog signal via a scan converter;
combining the analog signals from the satellite receiver and the scan converter into a junction device;
delivering the combined analog signals into a television network for viewing on a display device;
conducting video phone communications from the user to another user at a different location via the IP wireless signal to and from the transceiver tower; and
controlling and processing the method via a microcomputer.