Abstract:
A streaming media device includes a printed circuit board hosting components configured for streaming media from the internet. A connector is linked to the printed circuit board and adapted for a direct physical engagement with externally accessible matching leads of a television such that the streaming media device is directly coupled onto the television. A housing encloses the printed circuit board and a portion of the connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/340,507, filed Dec. 29, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/286,122, filed Oct. 31, 2011, now abandoned, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to television functionality. More particularly, this invention relates to a technique for augmenting television functionality through a media streaming device deployed through an audio/visual device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Roku, Inc., of Saratoga, Calif., the assignee of the present invention, currently offers a streaming media platform for connection to a television. In particular, the streaming media platform utilizes a cable (i.e., a High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI cable) to connect to external ports of a television. The streaming media platform uses a wireless connection to access the internet. Consequently, streamed media from the internet is wirelessly collected by the streaming media platform and is applied to the cable for display on a television. 
     There are commercially available televisions with resident internet access circuits. These internet access circuits may access the internet through a wireless connection or a wired connection, such as an Ethernet cable connection. Many purchasers are reluctant to purchase a television with a built-in internet access circuit because such purchasers do not want to be committed to a certain internet connection interface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention relates to a streaming media device. In one embodiment, the streaming media device includes a printed circuit board hosting components configured for streaming media from the internet. A connector is linked to the printed circuit board and adapted for a direct physical engagement with externally accessible matching leads of the television such that the streaming media device is directly coupled onto a television. A housing encloses the printed circuit board and a portion of the connector. 
     Another aspect of the invention relates to a streaming media system. In one embodiment, the streaming media system includes a streaming media device and a remote control. The streaming media device includes a printed circuit board hosting components configured for streaming media from the internet. A connector is linked to the printed circuit board and adapted for a direct physical engagement with externally accessible matching leads of the television such that the streaming media device is directly coupled onto a television. A housing encloses the printed circuit board and a portion of the connector. The remote control is capable of controlling the streaming media device and the television, wherein the remote control supplies input to a graphical user interface displayed on the television to coordinate access to the streaming media from the internet, such that the streaming media from the internet is displayed on the television. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates components associated with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an internet access card for engagement with a television in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates components associated with an internet access card configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates components associated with a television configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a media streaming device configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates components associated with an embodiment of the invention. In particular, the figure illustrates a television  100  with a card bay to receive an internet access card  102 , the configuration of which is discussed below. The television  100  is operative with a remote  104 , which includes buttons  106 . The television  100  as described is an example of a device that is capable of presenting audio and visual information. Such a device is commonly referred to as an audio/visual device. 
       FIG. 1  also illustrates the internet  110 , which is connected to a wireless router  108 . The wireless router  108  is in proximity to the television  108 , which allows the internet access card  102  to collect internet data. The wireless router  108  may also communicate with other proximate devices, such as a computer  112  and a personal digital assistant  114 . 
     Thus, the internet access card  102  provides an internet streaming solution as an add-on to a television. Consequently, the television manufacturer does not need to bear the cost of an internet streaming solution associated with a particular supplier. Instead, a consumer may choose from one of many internet access cards  102  and simply plugs a selected solution into the television  100 . This makes television purchasing easier since the consumer can purchase a television that is compatible with many internet streaming platforms. The consumer has the flexibility to purchase a low cost connectivity solution without being tied to a solution embedded within the television. If an internet access card  102  is not installed, then the television operates in a standard manner. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of the television  100 . The television  100  includes a card bay  200 , in this case a recessed region at the rear of the television. The card bay  200  includes a card bay electrical interface  202 , which may be in the form of a female socket. 
       FIG. 2  also illustrates the internet access card  102 , which includes a card housing  206 . The internet access card  102  also includes card leads  208 , which may be in the form of a male socket with double sided leads (i.e., leads on each side of a printed circuit board). The card housing  206  may include a card guide  210 . In one embodiment, the card guide  210  is a recessed region within the card housing  206 . The card guide  210  is configured to engage a protruding card bay guide  204  in card bay  200 . Preferably, this guide arrangement provides a mechanical key that allows for engagement with the card bay electrical interface  202  only when the card  102  is properly positioned. The guide arrangement also operates to support the card  102  when engaged with the card bay electrical interface  202 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates electrical components associated with internet access card  102 . The card includes a set of card leads  208 , which may be placed on top and bottom surfaces of a printed circuit board  300 . Exemplary pin assignments are as follows: 
     Pin Side A Side B Comments 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Pin 
                 Side A 
                 Side B 
                 Comments 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 5 V 
                 GND 
                 Ground pins are longest 
               
               
                 2 
                 GND 
                 5 V 
                 5 V at 6 W total 
               
               
                 3 
                 HPD 
                 CEC 
               
               
                 4 
                 GROUND 
                 CLK+ 
                 HDMI Out CLK + and − 
               
               
                 5 
                 GROUND 
                 CLK− 
               
               
                 6 
                 D0+ 
                 GROUND 
                 HDMI Out D0 + and − 
               
               
                 7 
                 D0− 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 8 
                 GROUND 
                 D1+ 
                 HDMI Out D1 + and − 
               
               
                 9 
                 GROUND 
                 D1− 
               
               
                 10 
                 D2+ 
                 GROUND 
                 HDMI Out D2 + and − 
               
               
                 11 
                 D2− 
                 GROUND 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Mechanical KEY 
               
             
          
           
               
                 12 
                 HDMI SDA 
                 Serial Data TX 
                 TX from TV to Card, 119200, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 N, 8, 1, 3.3 V 
               
               
                 13 
                 HDMI SCL 
                 Serial Data RX 
                 RX from Card to TV, 119200, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 N, 8, 1, 3.3 V 
               
               
                 14 
                 Reset_n 
                 FUTURE 
                 Reset goes low to reset our 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 card, high to run 
               
               
                 15 
                 TV_WakeReq_n 
                 TV_StbyState_n 
                 Used to wake the TV up from 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 standby 
               
               
                 16 
                 Crd_StbyReq_n 
                 Crd_StbyState_n 
                 Standby goes low request 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5 V 
                 card standby 
               
               
                 17 
                 FUTURE 
                 5 V 
               
               
                 18 
                 CARD_DETAn 
                 GROUND 
                 Ground pins are longest 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The different pins may be characterized as follows. 
     FUTURE: This means that the line is reserved for future definition. The line is not connected in this embodiment of the card. 
     GND: These are the system ground pins. Preferably, they are the longest pin on the male card edge connector, such that they contact the female connector first. 
     5V: In one embodiment, there is 6 W of 5V power. The HDMI specification requires 4.8V to 5.3V. In one embodiment, these pins are the 2 nd  longest pins. 
     HPD: This is the standard HDMI Hot Plug Detect (HPD) pin as defined in the HDMI specification for a HDMI source (TV card). 
     CEC: This is the standard HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) line, as defined by the HDMI specification. 
     CLK+, CLK−: This is the standard HDMI TMDS clock pair used to transmit data from the source (card  102 ) to the sink (TV  100 ). 
     D 0 +,D 0 −: This is the standard HDMI TMDS data pair  0  used to transmit data from the source (card  102 ) to the sink (TV  100 ). 
     D 1 +,D 1 −: This is the standard HDMI TMDS data pair  1  used to transmit data from the source (card  102 ) to the sink (TV  100 ). 
     D 2 +,D 2 −: This is the standard HDMI TMDS data pair  2  used to transmit data from the source (card  102 ) to the sink (TV  100 ). 
     Mechanical Key: This is a slot that is cut into the male connector between pins  11  and  12 , and is used to make sure that the card cannot be inserted backwards. 
     HDMI SDA: This is the HDMI standard Display Data Channel (DDC) I2C data line used to read the EDID from the sink (TV  100 ). 
     HDMI SCL: This is the HDMI standard Display Data Channel (DDC) I2C clock line used to read the EDID from the sink (TV  100 ). 
     Serial Data TX: This is the Transmit serial data line with data direction from the TV  100  to the card  102 . The voltage signaling level on this card may be 3.3V. The baud rate may be 119200, and the protocol may be N,8,1. The signaling level may be specified by a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) and may be inverted from the normal sense of 12V RS232. 
     Serial Data RX: This is the Receive serial data line with data direction from the card  102  to the TV  100 . The voltage signaling level on this card may be 3.3V. The baud rate may be 119200, and the protocol may be N,8,1. In one embodiment, the signaling level is from the UART and is inverted from the normal sense of 12V RS232. 
     Reset_n: This is the active low reset signal from the TV  100  to the card  102 . The TV  100  should hold this line low as long as there is no card inserted. When a card  102  is inserted, the TV is to keep this line low for about 200 mS, then raise this line to 3.3V. If the TV is unplugged and plugged back in, then the TV should hold the line low for 200 mS and raise the line to 3.3V. This line will not be toggled when the user turns the TV on and off. 
     TV_WakeReq_n: The card  102  makes this signal go low to request the TV  100  to wake up. This signal is used to wake up the TV in the condition for example if the user presses a key on the RF remote  104 . Under normal conditions this signal is high. 
     TV_StbyState_n: This signal is low when the TV is in standby mode. It is high when the TV is in regular running mode. The TV drives this signal. 
     Crd_StbyReq_n: The TV  100  will bring this signal low to ask the card  102  to go into standby mode. It will bring this signal high to ask the card  102  to go back into normal power mode. 
     Crd_StbyState_n: The card  102  makes this signal go low when the card  102  is in standby mode; it will go high when the card  102  is in normal power mode. 
     CARD_DETAn: The card  102  grounds this signal when the card is inserted. It may do this by connecting this pin to a ground pin on the card  102 . The TV  100  pulls up this signal with a ˜10K resistor, and then when this signal goes low it lets the TV know that a card has been inserted. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the processor  302  receiving some of these signals. In particular, audio/video (A/V) corresponds to specified HDMI signals, “serial” corresponds to the UART serial signals and “clock” corresponds to the different specified clock signals. The processor  302  may be an embedded multimedia applications processor, such as the BCM 2835, sold by Broadcom, Irvine, Calif. The printed circuit board  300  also hosts a power management chip  312 , which may be the BCM959002 power management unit sold by Broadcom, Irvine, Calif. The power management chip  312  receives a power signal from leads  208 . Thus, the card  102  does not require a separate power supply. It should be appreciated that the serial link of  FIG. 3  may be any communication link configured to support a specified communication protocol. The specified communication protocol may be Consumer Electronics Control (CEC), Serial Peripheral Interface Bus (SPI), Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) or a parallel bus. 
     The processor  302  is also connected to a WiFi circuit  304 , which may include one or more antennas. The WiFi circuit supports wireless communications, with for example, a wireless router. In one embodiment, there is also a Uniform Serial Bus (USB) port  306 . An Ethernet port  308  may also be provided, which allows for a hardwired connection to the internet. These ports should be exposed to the user when the card  102  is inserted in the television  100   
     An interface module  310  is also connected to the processor  302 . The interface module is a set of executable instructions stored in memory, which are executed by the processor  302 . The interface module  310  provides a graphical user interface for display on the television  100 . That is, in certain modes, the card  102  operates as a master device, while the television  100  operates as a slave device. Control signals to the television  100  may be supplied with CEC commands in the HDMI protocol. For example, an infrared receiver on the television may receive a command from a remote. The television sends the command over the internal HDMI CEC link to the card  102 . The card  102  may then provide the appropriate command back to the television  100  via an HDMI CEC link. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a television  100  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The television  100  is configured to include the card bay electrical interface  202 . This interface is relatively inexpensive and therefore does not present a barrier to adoption for television manufacturers. 
     Other inputs may include a tuner  402  (e.g., a high definition television tuner) and an auxiliary interface  404 . An audio/visual signal source multiplexer  406  operates under the control of the processor  408  to select an audio/visual signal input. The processor  408  performs standard functions to produce a visual signal at display  410  and an audio signal at speaker  412 . The television  100  also includes a standard power management circuit  414 . Observe that the card bay electrical interface  202  provides a link to the internal electronics of the television  100 . This allows the card  102  to control the television  100 , such as to provide a graphical user interface from the interface module  310 . 
     In one embodiment, the card  102  is 3 inches wide, 4 inches long and 0.75 inches thick. The invention is operative with a simple remote. For example, to access streaming content, only a small set of buttons is required, which may include a home key, back key, OK key, left navigation key, right navigation key, up navigation key, down navigation key, play/pause key, double arrow left key, and a double arrow right key. Alphanumeric keys are not required. Instead, the interface module  310  provides a graphical user interface that allows a user to navigate through content using only the specified keys. The home key may be used to invoke control by the card  102 . Alternately, control by the card  102  may be invoked by using a remote to toggle through different video input selections. A separate remote may be used with the card  102 . Alternately, signals from a universal remote or dedicated remote for a television manufacturer may be mapped to operations, as specified by the interface module  310 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a media streaming device  510  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The device  510  is configured to connect with the television  100 . In one embodiment, the device  510  is configured to stream media content from a source and make the streamed media accessible to the television  100 . In addition, the device  510  can also be configured to control the functionality of the television  100 . 
     In one embodiment, a cable  502  operates as an interface with television  100 . Television  100  corresponds to television  100  of  FIG. 4 , but instead of the card bay interface  202  of  FIG. 4 , a cable interface  500  is used. In one embodiment, the cable interface  500  is a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) cable interface. In another embodiment, the cable interface  500  is directly connected with a connector  504  without the use of the cable  502  while still utilizing an MHL interface through a connector such as HDMI connector, universal serial bus (USB) connector, and micro USB connector. MHL is a proposed industry standard for a mobile audio/video interface for directly connecting mobile phones to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and displays. The MHL standard features a single cable or connector with a low pin-count interface able to support up to 1080 p high-definition (HD) video and digital audio while simultaneously providing power for the connected device. 
     In one embodiment, the cable interface  500  is configured to decode signals received from the cable  502  or through the connector  504 . In one embodiment, the connector  504  is configured to encode signals from the device  510 . 
     Although not a mobile phone device that is contemplated by the MHL standard, the device  510  is a dedicated device capable of streaming media to the television  100  and controlling the television  100 . The connector  504  on the device  510  may be in any number of forms because MHL is connection agnostic. Thus, the interface may be a micro Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection or an HDTV connection (e.g., HDMI). 
     The device  510  also includes a processor  512  and interface module  514 . The interface module  514  supports MHL standard operations along with other operations specified in connection with other embodiments of the disclosed technology. A power management circuit  516  manages the power coming into the device  510  from the television  100 . The device  510  is powered from a lead at connector  504  and via the television  100 . 
     A WiFi circuit  518  is also resident within the device  510 . An antenna  520  is connected to the WiFi circuit  518 . The antenna  520  may be formed on a printed circuit board (not shown) associated with the components of the device  510 . Alternately, the antenna  520  may be incorporated into cable  502  or another externally mounted device. In another embodiment, the antenna  520  is externally mounted outside the device  510  and is coupled to the device  510  via a connector. For example, an externally mounted antenna can be located away from the device  510  and near the television  100  to optimize a signal being received by the antenna  520  for use by the device  510 . In yet another embodiment, the antenna  520  is comprised of a conductive medium such as a wire and is located external of the device  510 . 
     In one embodiment, the remote  104  is configured to communicate with the device  510 . The interface module  514  is configured to be responsive to the remote  104 . This allows the interface module  514  to operate as a master control device, with the television  100  operating as a slave device. For example, the interface module  514  may include an infrared sensor to communicate with the remote  104 . In one embodiment, the remote  104  controls both the device  510  and the television  100 . In another embodiment, the remote  104  is configured as a simplified remote. For example, to access streaming content, only a small set of buttons is required, which may include a home key, back key, OK key, left navigation key, right navigation key, up navigation key, down navigation key, play/pause key, double arrow left key, and a double arrow right key. Alphanumeric keys are not required. Instead, the interface module  514  provides a graphical user interface that allows a user to navigate through content using only the specified keys. The home key may be used to invoke control of the television  100  by the device  510 . 
     In one instance, the television  100  may lack the ability to control volume selection, channel selection, and/or source selection. In another instance, the television  100  has the capability of volume control, channel selection, and source selection. In both instances, the remote  104  can serve as the primary interface and control both the device  510  and the television  100 . For example, the remote  104  is configured to control the source selection, channel selection and/or volume for the television  100  by sending the appropriate instructions through the interface module  514  of the device  510 . 
     In another embodiment, these instructions are further encoded by the interface module  514  from instructions from the remote  104  into a format that can be used to control the television  100 . In one embodiment, the functionality of the interface module  514  is separated into two distinct modules; one module for interfacing with the remote  104  commands and another module for encoding instructions into another format such as the MHL interface. Further, representations of these instructions originating from the remote  104  are routed to the television  100  through the connector  504 . In one embodiment, the connector  504  utilizes the MHL interface to control the television  100 . 
     In use, the remote  104  is configured to control streaming media and other functionality of the device  510  in addition to controlling aspects of the television  100  such as volume, channel selection and source selection. 
     Alternately, control by the device  510  may be invoked by using a remote to toggle through different video input selections. A separate remote may be used with the device  510 . Alternately, signals from a universal remote or dedicated remote for a television manufacturer may be mapped to operations, as specified by the interface module  514 . 
     An embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer storage product with a computer readable storage medium having computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to: magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs and holographic devices; magneto-optical media; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), programmable logic devices (“PLDs”) and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher-level code that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, an embodiment of the invention may be implemented using JAVA®, C++, or other object-oriented programming language and development tools. Another embodiment of the invention may be implemented in hardwired circuitry in place of, or in combination with, machine-executable software instructions. 
     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.