Abstract:
A set top box comprises a signal receiver that includes a front end that receives broadband signals, and a tuner that tunes a channel including audio and video signals. A signal demodulator communicates with the signal receiver and demodulates the audio and video signals. A video processor communicates with the signal demodulator and encodes and transmits the video signals via a first medium. A transmitter communicates with the signal demodulator and transmits the encoded audio signals via a second wireless medium, wherein the first medium and the second wireless medium are different types of media.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/672,249, filed on Apr. 18, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to entertainment systems, and more particularly to wireless audio for entertainment systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an entertainment system  10  includes a television or monitor  12  such as a conventional television, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display, a projector, and/or any other display system. A set-top box, cable box or other device  16  (collectively set top box  16 ) receives content from a service provider  20  such as audio and/or video content. The service provider  20  may be a cable service, a satellite service, a wireless service, a conventional wireless broadcast and/or other suitable service provider.  
         [0004]     The set top box  16  outputs content to the TV or monitor  12  that includes video and audio signals. The TV or monitor  12  includes audio outputs  24  that may be connected by connecting wires to an audio system  28 . The audio system  28 , in turn, is typically connected to one or more speakers  30 . The audio output  24  includes one or more channels for mono, stereo, surround or other audio formats. For example, surround sound typically includes 5 or 7 channels.  
         [0005]     Oftentimes, the consumer may purchase a particular television or monitor  12  for aesthetic reasons. For example, LCD and/or plasma displays have a relatively small thickness and can be mounted on a wall. Customers purchasing these types of devices prefer to have an uncluttered look. The entertainment system shown in  FIG. 1 , however, requires a significant amount of wiring to be used between devices such as the set top box  16 , the TV or monitor  12 , the audio system  28  and/or the speakers  30 . While the wiring can be installed through drywall and hidden during construction of a home, the location of components of the entertainment system cannot change very much once installed. When customers add an entertainment system to an existing home, it is often times significantly more expensive to install wiring behind the drywall. Therefore, the wires are usually routed through the room, which is undesirable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A set top box comprises a signal receiver that includes a front end that receives digital broadband signals and a tuner that tunes a channel including digital audio and video signals. A signal demodulator communicates with the signal receiver and demodulates the digital audio and video signals. A video processor communicates with the signal demodulator and encodes and transmits the digital video output signals via a first medium. A transmitter communicates with the signal demodulator and transmits digital audio output signals via a second wireless medium. The first medium has a higher bandwidth capacity and a different protocol than the second wireless medium.  
         [0007]     In other features, a system comprises the set top box and further comprises a display that communicates with the first medium and an audio system that includes a receiver that communicates with the second wireless medium. The display is selected from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. A first wireless network interface communicates with the video output device. The first wireless network interface is compliant with at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n. The set top box is integrated with the display or located remotely from the display. The display further comprises a second wireless network interface that communicates with the first medium.  
         [0008]     In still other features, a system comprises the set top box and further comprises an audio system that includes a receiver module that communicates with the audio system and that receives the digital audio output signals via the second wireless medium. The audio system includes a plurality of transmitter modules and further comprises a plurality of speakers each including a receiver module that communicates with a respective one of the transmitter modules. The first bandwidth capacity is greater than 50 Mb/s and the second bandwidth capacity of the second wireless medium is less than 1 Mb/s.  
         [0009]     A system comprises a first transceiver that wirelessly receives content. A set top box communicates with the first transceiver, separates the content into audio signals and video signals and outputs the audio signals to the first transceiver and the video signals to a display. The first transceiver wirelessly transmits the audio signals to an audio system.  
         [0010]     In other features, a modem receives broadband signals including a plurality of channels and tunes a channel containing the content. A network device communicates with the modem. A second transceiver communicates with the network device and transmits the content to the first transceiver.  
         [0011]     In other features, a network device receives broadband signals including a plurality of channels and tunes a channel containing the content. A second transceiver communicates with the network device and transmits the content to the first transceiver. The display is selected from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. The first transceiver wirelessly communicates using at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, frequency modulation and ultrawideband (UWB) formats. The audio system includes a plurality of transmitters and further comprises a plurality of speakers each including a receiver that communicates with a respective one of the transmitters.  
         [0012]     In other features, the content is transmitted as packets from the second transceiver to the first transceiver. The audio signals and video signals are digital signals.  
         [0013]     A system comprises first transceiving means for wirelessly receiving content. Separating means communicates with the first transceiving means, separates the content into audio signals and video signals and outputs the audio signals to the first transceiving means and the video signals to display means for displaying. The first transceiving means wirelessly transmits the audio signals to audio means for generating audible audio signals.  
         [0014]     In other features, receiving and tuning means receives broadband signals including a plurality of channels and tunes a channel containing the content. Interface means communicates with the modem. Second transceiving means communicates with the interface means and transmits the content to the first transceiving means.  
         [0015]     In other features, interface means receives broadband signals including a plurality of channels and tunes a channel containing the content. Second transceiver communicates with the interface means and transmits the content to the first transceiving means.  
         [0016]     In other features, the display means is selected from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. The first transceiving means wirelessly communicates using at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, frequency modulation and ultrawideband (UWB) formats. The audio means includes a plurality of transmitting means for transmitting and further comprises a plurality of speakers each including receiving means for communicating with a respective one of the transmitting means.  
         [0017]     In other features, the content is transmitted as packets from the second transceiving means to the first transceiving means. The audio signals and video signals are digital signals.  
         [0018]     A method comprises wirelessly receiving content using a first transceiver; separating the content into audio signals and video signals; outputting the audio signals to the first transceiver and the video signals to a display; and wirelessly transmitting the audio signals to an audio system using the first transceiver.  
         [0019]     In other features, the method includes receiving broadband signals including a plurality of channels; and tuning a channel containing the content. The method includes selecting the display from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. The first transceiver wirelessly communicates using at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, frequency modulation and ultrawideband (UWB) formats. The method includes wirelessly transmitting the audio signals from the audio system to receivers associated with a plurality of speakers. The method includes transmitting the content as digital packets from the second transceiver to the first transceiver. The audio signals and video signals are digital signals.  
         [0020]     A set top box comprises a signal receiver that includes a front end that receives digital broadband signals and a tuner that tunes a channel including digital audio and video signals. A signal demodulator communicates with the signal receiver and demodulates the digital audio and video signals. A decoder outputs first data packets containing digital audio signals and second data packets containing digital video signals.  
         [0021]     In other features, a system comprises the set top box and further comprises an audio system and a first receiver that communicates with the audio system. A second receiver that communicates with a display. A transmitter receives the first and second data packets and wirelessly transmits the first data packets to the first receiver and transmits the second data packets to the second receiver. The transmitter wirelessly transmits the second data packets to the second receiver. The transmitter wirelessly transmits the first data packets to the second receiver. The display is selected from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. The transmitter wirelessly communicates using at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and ultrawideband (UWB) formats. The audio system includes a plurality of transmitter modules and further comprises a plurality of speakers each including a receiver module that communicates with a respective one of the transmitter modules.  
         [0022]     A set top box comprises signal receiving means for receiving digital broadband signals and tuning means for tuning a channel including digital audio and video signals. Signal demodulating means communicates with the signal receiving means and demodulates the digital audio and video signals. Decoder means outputs first data packets containing digital audio signals and second data packets containing digital video signals.  
         [0023]     In other features, a system comprises the set top box and further comprises audio output means for generating audio signals. First receiving means communicates with the audio output means. Display means displays video signals. Second receiving means communicates with the display means. Transmitting means receives the first and second data packets and wirelessly transmits the first data packets to the first receiving means and transmits the second data packets to the second receiving means. The transmitting means wirelessly transmits the second data packets to the second receiving means. The transmitting means wirelessly transmits the first data packets to the second receiving means. The display means is selected from a group consisting of televisions and monitors. The transmitting means wirelessly communicates using at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and ultrawideband (UWB) formats. The audio means includes a plurality of transmitting means for transmitting and further comprises a plurality of speakers each including receiving means for receiving that communicate with a respective one of the transmitting means.  
         [0024]     A method for operating a set top box comprises receiving digital broadband signals; tuning a channel including digital audio and video signals; demodulating the digital audio and video signals; and outputting first data packets containing digital audio signals and second data packets containing digital video signals.  
         [0025]     In other features, the method includes receiving the first and second data packets; wirelessly transmitting the first data packets to a first receiver; and transmitting the second data packets to a second receiver. The method includes wirelessly transmitting the second data packets to the second receiver. The method includes wirelessly transmitting the first data packets to the second receiver. The wirelessly communication uses at least one of I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.16, and ultrawideband (UWB) formats.  
         [0026]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the prior art;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a set top box according to the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention including a wireless link between the set top box and the audio system;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention including wireless links between the set top box and the audio system and the television or monitor;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention with a television or monitor having an integrated set top box and including a wireless link between the television or monitor and the audio system;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention with a television or monitor having an integrated set top box and including a wireless link between the television or monitor and speakers;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention with a wireless transceiver that wirelessly receives content, a set top box that separates the content into audio and video portions and transmits the audio portion to the wireless transceiver, which provides a wireless link to an audio system with speakers and the video portion to a display; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram of an entertainment system according to the present invention including a set top box including a decoder that parses content into audio and video data packet streams and a wireless transmitter that transmits the audio data packets to a receiver associated with an audio system and the video data packets to the monitor. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module and/or device refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.  
         [0037]     Entertainment systems receive content from service providers that include video and audio content and their corresponding signals. The entertainment system according to the present invention employs a lower cost/bandwidth wireless link to distribute audio signals from a service provider to audio system components while using a higher cost/bandwidth wireless link or hardwired link to the television or monitor. In some implementations, the set top box does not convert the audio and/or video signals to analog form. In other words, the audio and video signals remain in digital form until received at the final output device such as the display, audio system and/or speakers.  
         [0038]     The higher cost/bandwidth wireless link from the set top box to the television or monitor include links that are compliant with I.E.E.E. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n and/or other current or future wireless links. Audio signals typically require a bandwidth of 24 Kb/s per channel. Therefore, a five channel audio signal would require 120 Kb/s. The bandwidth of the wireless link to the home audio system will depend upon the number of channels to be supported. For example, the wireless link to the audio system may include a 900 MHz wireless link. Various exemplary configurations will be described further below and serve as illustrative but not limiting implementations.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a set top box  40  according to the present invention is shown. The set top box  40  includes source inputs  42 A,  42 B and  42 C (collectively inputs  42 ) such as antenna, cable, satellite and/or other inputs. The inputs  42  communicate with a radio frequency (RF) front ends (FE)  44 A,  44 B and  44 C (collectively front ends  44 ). Tuners  46 A,  46 B and  46 C tune a channel in a broadband signal that is received based on user selection. Amplifiers  48 A,  48 B and  48 C (collectively amplifiers  48 ) amplify a selected channel. Analog to digital converters (ADCs)  50 A,  50 B and  50 C (collectively ADCs  50 ) convert the amplified analog channel signal to a digital signal. An RF demodulator  52  performs demodulation. Exemplary demodulation techniques include orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), quadrature frequency shift keying (QFSK) and/or other suitable demodulation techniques.  
         [0040]     A central processing unit (CPU)  54  communicates with the RF demodulator  52  via an interface  56 . In some implementations, the interface  56  is a peripheral component interface (PCI), PCI express and/or any other suitable interface. The CPU  54  may include volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. An analog phone line  58  can be connected via an interface  60  and a voice coder/decoder  62  to the interface  56 .  
         [0041]     A video processor  64  performs video processing and may include nonvolatile memory  66  such as flash memory, a hard disk drive or other suitable nonvolatile memory and volatile memory such as SDRAM or other suitable volatile memory. A video decoder  72  receives video input  74  and performs suitable decoding such as but not limited to MPEG decoding. A video encoder  74  encodes video signals for output to a digital to analog converter (DAC)  76 , an amplifier  78  and an S-video output  80 . The output of the DAC  76  can also be output as a channel  34  video output  82 .  
         [0042]     The interface  56  also communicates with a set top box display  84  and/or a display associated with the television or monitor. The set top box  40  may also include a universal serial bus (USB)  86 . A keypad  88  may be directly connected to the set top box  40  and/or a wireless interface may be provided. A remote control interface  90  receives infrared signals from a remote control  91  to allow user selection of channels, volume and/or other set top box functions. An 802.11 interface  92  is compliant with at least one of 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n (which are all hereby incorporated by reference) and other current and future wireless standards. A digital video interface (DVI)/transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) interface  93 , a 1394 or Firewire interface and/or a Bluetooth interface  95  may also be provided. A medium access control (MAC) device  96  may provide an interface to a modem such as a digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, wireless or other broadband service. The MAC device  96  may be integrated with other components of the set top box  40 .  
         [0043]     An audio coder/decoder codec  99  communicates with the interface  56  and performs audio coding and decoding. The audio codec  99  communicates with a line input  100  and an amplifier  101  and a line output  102 . The interface  56  and/or the audio codec  99  also communicate with a transmitter  103  for sending audio signals wirelessly to other devices. The audio signals may also be sent wirelessly via the 802.11 and/or Bluetooth interfaces  92  and  95 , respectively. The audio codec  99  may be used to convert the digital audio signals to analog form prior to transmission and/or the digital audio signals may be sent directly via the interface  56  to the transmitter  103 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an entertainment system  108  according to the present invention includes a wireless link between a set top box and an audio system. More particularly, the set top box  110  includes a decoding module  112  that receives content and outputs a video signal  114  to the TV or monitor  12 . The decoding module  112  also outputs an audio signal to a transmitter module  118 , which transmits the audio signal over a wireless link  119  to a receiver module  120  associated with an audio system  124 . As can be appreciated, the receiver module  120  may be integrated with or separate from the audio system  124 . In some implementations, the audio signal includes 1, 2, . . . , or N channels. In some implementations, the audio signal supports surround sound and N=5 or 7. For example, the wireless link  119  can be a 900 MHz link. The transmitter  118  can be implemented by the transmitter  103 , the 802.11 interface  92  and/or the Bluetooth interface  95 , which generates the wireless signal  119 .  
         [0045]     In use, the set top box  110  receives a broadband signal containing content channels. A user selects a content channel using inputs to the set top box  110  and/or remote control  91 . The selected content channel provides a data stream including audio and video content. The decoding module  112  decodes the audio and video content. The audio content or signal includes one or more audio channels that are output to the transmitter module  118 . The transmitter module  118  transmits the channels to the receiver module  120 .  
         [0046]     The receiver module  120  outputs the channels to the audio system  124 , which outputs the audio signals to the speakers  30 . The connection between the audio system  28  and the speakers can be wired or wireless. If a wireless connection is used, the audio system includes one or more transmitters and the speakers include receivers and shown in  FIG. 5 . The decoding module  112  outputs the video signal to the TV or monitor  12 . In addition, the audio signal may also be output to the TV or monitor  12 . In some implementations, the link to the TV or monitor  12  is unidirectional or bidirectional whereas the link to the audio system and/or speakers is unidirectional. In some implementations, the audio and video signals are received in digital form and are separated and output to the television or monitor and the audio receiver in digital form without conversion to an analog format.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an entertainment system  150  according to the present invention includes a high bandwidth wireless link  154  between a set top box  160  and the television or monitor  164 . The entertainment system  150  includes a low bandwidth wireless link  154  between the set top box  160  and the audio system  124 . The TV or monitor  164  includes a network interface  168 . Likewise the set top box  160  includes a network interface  170 . The network interface  170  may be implemented by the 802.11 interface  92 . The video signals are transmitted via the wireless link  154  to the TV or monitor  164 . For example, the wireless link  154  can be 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n compliant. The audio signals are transmitted via the wireless link  119  in a manner similar to that described above. The transmitter  118  can be implemented by the transmitter  103  and/or the Bluetooth interface  95 . In some implementations, the audio and video signals are received in digital form and are separated and sent to the television or monitor and the audio receiver in digital form without conversion to analog format.  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an entertainment system  250  according to the present invention includes a television or monitor  260  having an integrated set top box  264 . The set top box  264  generates an audio output to a transmitter module  266 , which generates a wireless link  270  containing channels of the audio signal. The set top box  264  may include a decoding module as described in  FIG. 2 . The audio system  124  includes one or more transmitters  267  and  268  that generate wireless audio signals and the speakers  30  include and/or are connected to receivers  269  and  270  that receives the wireless signals. In some implementations, the audio and video signals are received in digital form and are separated and sent to the television or monitor and the audio receiver in digital form without conversion to analog format.  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an entertainment system  300  according to the present invention includes a television or monitor  310  having an integrated set top box  314  and a transmitter module  316 . The transmitter module  316  generates wireless links  330 - 1 ,  330 - 2 ,  330 - 3  and  330 - 4  (collectively  330 ) directly between the television or monitor  310  and receivers  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2 ,  310 - 3  and  310 - 4  (collectively  310 ) associated with speakers  312 - 1 ,  312 - 2 ,  312 - 3  and  312 - 4  (collectively  312 ). In some implementations, the audio and video signals are received in digital form, are separated and are sent to the television or monitor and the audio receiver in digital form without conversion to analog format.  
         [0050]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an entertainment system  400  according to the present invention is shown to include a wireless transceiver  410  that wirelessly receives audio and video content that can be in analog or digital format. The wireless transceiver  410  can receive the wireless signals from any wireless source. In some implementations, the wireless content that is received by the transceiver  410  can be in any current or future MPEG format, although other formats may be used. The wireless transceiver  410  outputs the received wireless content to a set top box  412 , which separates the received content into audio and video signals, outputs the audio signals back to the transceiver  410  and the video signals to the TV or monitor  12 . The transceiver  410  retransmits the audio signals to the audio system  124 .  
         [0051]     While the following discussion relates to one suitable approach for delivering the wireless audio and video content to the wireless transceiver  410 , skilled artisans will appreciate that other approaches may be used. In some implementations, a service provider  414  may generate analog and/or digital broadband signals that are received by a modem  416 . The broadband signals may be cable-based, satellite-based, DSL-based, wireless-based or any other suitable broadband source. A network device  418  such as a computer with a network interface receives content from the modem  416 . In some implementations, the modem  416  includes a tuner that tunes a selected channel, demodulates the signal and converts the signal from analog to digital format. If in digital format, the modem  416  may include a digital receiver that receives and decodes the digital content. Alternately, the modem  416  may not include the tuner/digital receiver and the network device  418  may receive the broadband signal directly from the service provider  416 . In this approach, the network device  418  includes a digital receiver and/or a tuner that outputs audio and video content to a wireless transceiver  420  for wireless transmission to the wireless transceiver  410 .  
         [0052]     The set top box  412  communicates with the transceiver  410  and includes a decoder  425  that separates the content into the audio and video signals. In some implementations, the set top box  424  includes an infrared (IR) receiver  430  that receives wireless signals  432  containing user inputs such as channel identification from a wireless remote control  434  and/or directly via buttons on the set top box  412 . Based on the received user inputs, the set top box  412  provides the channel identification to the transceiver  410 , which outputs the selected channel the wireless transceiver  420 . The channel selection is used by the digital receiver and/or tuner associated with the network device  418  and/or modem  416  to decode or tune the selected channel.  
         [0053]     The audio portion  426  is output to the transceiver  410 , which transmits the audio signals to the audio system  124  and speakers  30 . In some embodiments, the decoder  425  outputs the video portion alone and/or audio and video to the TV or monitor  12 .  
         [0054]     The audio portion output by the decoder  425  may include digital packets containing audio and/or an analog signal. When audio packets are used, a receiver  430  associated with the audio system  124  receives the audio packets and generates analog signals based thereon. In some implementations, the receiver  440  includes a converter for converting the digital packets to analog signals. Alternately, when analog signals are used such as FM signals, the receiver  440  may include a FM tuner that demodulates the FM signal containing the audio content.  
         [0055]     In some implementations, transceiver  410  employs wireless fidelity (WiFi) such as 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n (which are all hereby incorporated by reference) and other current or future 802.11 wireless standards, frequency modulation, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, Inc. (group promoting IEEE 802.16 wireless broadband standard) (WiMax) and/or ultrawideband (UWB) wireless formats for communication with the transceiver  420  and/or the receiver  430 .  
         [0056]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an entertainment system  450  according to the present invention is shown to include a set top box  452  that receives content such as digital broadband signals including audio and video content. The set top box  452  includes a decoder  454  that parses or separates the content into audio and video packet streams. The parsed data packet streams are output to a wireless transmitter  456  that transmits the audio packets to a receiver  460  associated with the audio system  124  and the video packets a receiver  462  associated with the monitor  12 . The audio packets may also be transmitted to the monitor  12  as well. The transmitter and receivers in this embodiment may operate using any of the protocols described above.  
         [0057]     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. For example, while some implementations include 4 or 5 audio speakers and channels, any number of audio speakers and channels may be used. In addition, the number of speakers and channels need not be the same. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.