Apparatus and method for distributing audio and video content using existing network wiring
View Patent ↗An apparatus, system and method are described which allows multimedia signals received from one or more content providers (e.g., cable television providers, Internet content providers, . . . etc) to be received, processed and retransmitted by an originating node to one or more receiving nodes over a local cable network (e.g., the coaxial cable network within a user's home). One impediment to communication between nodes within the local cable network is the fact that most cable splitters are designed to attenuate signals between the split legs of the splitter. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a reflector device coupled upstream of the root splitter in a local cable network (or in place of the root splitter) is configured to reflect signals transmitted from the originating node back up into the network to the receiving nodes. Signal attenuation is minimized because the signals propagate from the splitter inputs to the splitter legs (rather than between the splitter legs).
1. A system comprising:
an originating node within a local cable network to transmit multimedia signals;
a reflector device to interface between an external television network and said local cable network, said reflector device to receive said multimedia signals from said originating node and to retransmit said multimedia signals back into said local cable network; and
a plurality of receiving nodes communicatively coupled to said reflector device within said local cable network to receive said multimedia signals retransmitted by said reflector device and to render said retransmitted multimedia signals;
wherein said plurality of receiving nodes are configured to transmit received signal strength indication (“RSSI”) values indicating respective strengths of said retransmitted multimedia signals received at said receiving nodes; and
wherein, in response to said RSSI values, said reflector device adjusts an amount by which it respectively amplifies said multimedia signals received from said originating node prior to retransmitting said multimedia signals to said receiving nodes, wherein said amount of amplification provided by said reflector device is based on a selection of one or more intended receiving nodes from among said plurality of receiving nodes.
2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node comprises a mass storage device for buffering and/or pre-recording selected multimedia programs to be subsequently transmitted to said receiving nodes.
3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said reflector device is comprised of frequency shifting means to frequency-shift said multimedia signals prior to transmitting said multimedia signals into said local cable network.
4. The system as in claim 3 wherein said originating node receives multimedia content at a frequency band below a service provider cutoff frequency and transmits said multimedia content to said reflector device within a frequency band either above or below said service provider cutoff frequency.
5. The system as in claim 4 wherein said originating node transmits said multimedia content within a 1.2 GHz to 1.4 GHz frequency band and said reflector device reflects said multimedia content within a 1.0 GHz to 1.2 GHz frequency band.
6. The system as in claim 4 wherein one of said service providers is a cable service provider.
7. The system as in claim 4 wherein one of said service providers is a satellite service provider.
8. The system as in claim 4 wherein one of said service providers is an Internet service provider.
9. The system as in claim 1 wherein said reflector device also reflects control information individually transmitted from each of said receiving nodes to said originating node via said local cable network.
10. The system as in claim 9 wherein said control information includes said RSSI values.
11. The system as in claim 10 wherein, in response to said RSSI values, said originating node adjusts power levels at which it transmits each of said multimedia signals to each of said receiving nodes.
12. The system as in claim 9 wherein said control information indicates which particular multimedia signals are to be transmitted to each of said receiving nodes.
13. The system as in claim 12 wherein said control information is initially provided to each of said receiving nodes via a remote control device.
14. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node is comprised of a cable and/or satellite tuner and wherein one or more of said multimedia signals are cable and/or satellite programs received by said originating node and retransmitted to said receiving nodes via said reflector device.
15. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node comprises a mass storage device on which one or more of said multimedia signals are stored concurrent with transmission of said multimedia signals to said receiver nodes and/or prior to transmission of said multimedia signals to said receiver nodes.
16. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node is comprised of an Internet connection and wherein one or more of said multimedia signals are voice-over-IP multimedia signals transmitted over said Internet connection.
17. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node is comprised of a digital video disk (“DVD”) player and wherein one or more of said multimedia signals are video and/or audio signals read from a DVD.
18. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node is comprised of a mass storage device for storing audio content copied from compact disks (“CDs”) and/or downloaded from the Internet, and wherein one or more of said multimedia signals transmitted to said receiving nodes are audio signals representing said audio content read from said mass storage device.
19. The system as in claim 1 wherein local telephone wiring is employed instead of said local cable network.
20. The system as in claim 1 wherein local AC power wiring is employed instead of said local cable network.
21. The system as in claim 1 wherein said originating node communicates multimedia signals and/or control data to and from at least one receiving node via a wireless communication channel.