Patent ID: 8365239
Filing Date: 2013-01-29
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A portable, self-contained, and independently operating USB mass storage device configured as a peripheral device for external connection to a host computer and usable for storing data and as a dual television tuner, and comprising: no more that a single physical data port, wherein the data port comprises a USB connector for connection to the host computer; a memory module for receiving and storing data from the host computer when the USB mass storage device is used as a conventional memory module; a selectively activatable and deactivatable antenna; a selectively activatable and deactivatable television tuner module and a selectively activatable and deactivatable wireless local area network module both operatively connected to the antenna for receiving a television signal from the antenna, and for passing the television signal for playing on the host computer when the USB mass storage device is operatively connected to the host computer by the USB connector; a selectively activatable and deactivatable decoder for decoding the television signal received from the antenna before the television signal is passed for playing on the host computer, if decoding is required; and a microcontroller for causing only one of the television tuner module and the wireless local area network module to pass the television signal at any one time for playing on the host computer, and wherein the microcontroller deactivates the antenna, the television tuner module, the wireless local area network module, and the decoder in response to the memory module receiving and storing data.