Patent Publication Number: US-8535151-B2

Title: Multimedia-based video game distribution

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/166,785, filed on Jun. 24, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/166,909, entitled “Networked Television and Method Thereof,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/166,908, entitled “Video Game Console Modular Card and Method Thereof,” now abandoned, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/166,907, entitled “Audio Receiver Modular Card and Method Thereof,” each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present application relates generally to video game data and the distribution thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Video game data typically is supplied to a user in the form of a physical medium, such as a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a game cartridge. Obtaining a video game typically entails visiting a retailer to buy or rent a physical medium on which the video game data is stored. This retailer-based rental/purchase process is time consuming and often is inconvenient for the user. 
     In an effort to make video games more readily available, some video game suppliers have made video game data available for download via the Internet. These Internet-based solutions require the use of a personal computer (PC) to navigate a web browser or other Internet-based utility to a particular website where the video game data can be accessed. While providing access to video game data, these conventional Internet-based techniques have a number of limitations. For one, the process of navigating to the appropriate website and initiating the download of the video game data often is time consuming and has potential for user errors. Moreover, the video game data typically is formatted only for use on the PC. Processing a video game on a PC typically involves utilizing the core resources of the PC, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and the video card, in preparing the video and audio content representative of the game play. This reliance on the core components of the PC taxes the PC, often to the detriment of other processes being executed by the PC. Moreover, due to their multiple-purpose architecture, PCs do not have dedicated resources to provide the optimal gaming experience. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary architecture of the networked television of  FIG. 1  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary multimedia decoder modular card architecture in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for processing multimedia data at a networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for providing multimedia data to a networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary distribution of processed multimedia content via a network in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary distribution of processed multimedia data content via a wireless medium in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for distributing processed distributing multimedia content in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary audio receiver modular card architecture in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary distribution of audio content to speakers via a wireless medium in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for processing audio data at a networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for providing audio data to a networked television for processing in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary video game console modular card architecture in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for processing video game data at a networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary provision of video game data via one or more television channels in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating an exemplary video game download selection display screen in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 17  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for providing video game data via one or more transmission channels in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 18  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for obtaining video game data at a networked television in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided. The method includes providing a multimedia data stream for reception by a display device. The multimedia data stream includes a first channel having video content representing a first list of available video games and corresponding channel identifiers and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list. The second channel is associated with a first channel identifier corresponding to the first video game. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes receiving, at a system including a display device, a multimedia data stream, wherein the multimedia data stream includes a first channel having video content representing a first list of available video games and corresponding channel identifiers and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list. The second channel is associated with a first channel identifier corresponding to the first video game. The method further includes providing the video content representing the first list of available video games for display. The method also includes receiving a user input indicating a selection of the first channel identifier associated with the first video game of the first list in response to display of the video content. The method additionally includes obtaining the video game data associated with the first video game from the second channel for storage at the system in response to receiving the user input. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided. The system includes one or more storage devices to store video game data associated with a plurality of video games and a list generation module to generate video content representing a first list of video games and corresponding channel identifiers. The system further includes a multimedia stream generator coupled to the one or more storage devices and the list generation module. The multimedia stream generator generates a multimedia data stream for output. The multimedia data stream includes at least a first channel having data representative of the video content representing the first list of video games and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list. The second channel is associated with a first channel identifier corresponding to the first video game. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect of the present disclosure, a television is provided. The television includes a display and a first interface to receive a multimedia data stream. The multimedia data stream includes a first channel having video content representing a first list of available video games and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list. The television further includes a decoder to provide the video content to the display. The television also includes a control interface to receive a user input indicating a selection of a channel identifier associated with the first video game of the first list in response to display of the video content. The television further includes a video game storage unit to obtain the video game data associated with the first video game from the second channel in response to the user input, a first modular card receptacle coupled to the first interface. The television additionally includes a game console modular card coupled to the first modular card receptacle. The game console modular card processes the video game data and includes one or more controller inputs to receive user control signals related to game play and an output to provide video data associated with the game play. The television is operable to display video content on the display promptly upon receipt of a request to power up the television. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary networked television  100  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted, the television  100  includes a housing  101  that contains a display  102 , e.g., a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. Further, the housing  101  includes a plurality of user interface buttons  104 , such as a power button, channel change buttons, volume control buttons, and the like. The housing  101  also includes a remote control interface  106 , e.g., an infrared interface or a radio frequency (RF) interface, to receive remote control commands from a remote control  108 . In a particular embodiment, one or more operations of the television  100  are responsive to the remote control commands. The television  100  further includes an interface panel  110  that is accessible via an external surface of the housing  101 , at a top, back or side surface of the housing  101 . The interface panel  110  includes one or more interfaces for receiving or outputting various forms of multimedia data. As shown, the interface panel  110  includes an IN component  112  that includes, for example, an S-video receptacle  122  or audio/visual receptacles  124 . The interface panel  110  also includes a digital versatile disk (DVD) IN component  114  that is configured to receive video data and audio data from an external DVD player or other multimedia source. In particular, the DVD IN component  114  includes a plurality of receptacles  126  that can receive component video and audio. The panel  110  also can include an OUT component  116  that has receptacles  128  to provide video data and/or audio data to another television or recording device, such as a personal video recorder (PVR) or an external DVD player/recorder. An RF antenna receptacle  120  also can be incorporated into the panel  110  to receive multimedia data via RF transmissions. 
     In at least one embodiment, the panel  110  further includes a network interface  118  that includes a network receptacle  130  that can be connected to any of a variety of packet-based data networks. The receptacle  130  can be connected to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network, e.g., an Ethernet network or an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)-based network. Further, in a particular embodiment, the network interface  118  can include an Ethernet interface and as such, the network receptacle  130  can be an RJ-45 receptacle that is configured to receive an Ethernet cable that is connected to an Ethernet-based network. The television  100  can utilize the network interface  118  to receive multimedia data, e.g., video data, audio data, or videogame data, over a packet-based network for processing at the television  100 . Moreover, the network interface  118  may be used by the television  100  to forward information to another networked device, such as another networked television  100 . The forwarded information may include, for example, processed multimedia data or information associated with the multimedia data, information associated with a video game being played at the television  100 , and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the panel  110  further can include one or more modular card receptacles  132  (also commonly referred to as “expansion slots”) to interface with one or more modular cards (also commonly referred to as “expansion cards”) to enhance the functionality of the television  100 . The modular cards can include, for example, a multimedia decoder modular card  140 , a wireless network interface modular card  142 , an audio receiver modular card  144 , a video game console modular card  146 , and the like. In a particular embodiment, the modular card receptacles  132  and the corresponding modular cards  140 ,  142 ,  144  and  146  may be implemented using a standard architecture, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-compliant architecture, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)-compliant architecture, or a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA)-compliant architecture. Alternately, the modular card receptacles  132  and the corresponding modular cards  140 ,  142 ,  144  and  146  may be implemented using a proprietary architecture, or a combination of standard and proprietary architectures. The wireless network interface modular card  142  includes an antenna  148  to transmit and receive wireless signals. 
     To customize the functionality of the television  100 , modular cards may be added to or removed from the television by inserting or removing the modular cards from their corresponding modular card receptacles. For example, the panel  110  may include an opening in the housing for each modular card receptacle  132  and each modular card receptacle  132  may receive a modular card that is inserted through the corresponding opening so that the contacts of the modular card receptacle interface are brought into secure contact with the contacts of the receiving modular card receptacle  132 . Alternately, part or all of the panel  110  can be temporarily removed to install the modular card in a modular card receptacle  132 . In at least one embodiment, some or all of the modular cards may include one or more interface receptacles that are accessible at the panel  110  to interface with other components. 
     In a particular embodiment, the incorporation of one or more modular cards into the television  100  allows for an expansion of the available functionality of the television  100 . For example, the television  100  can incorporate the wireless network interface modular card  142  to provide wireless connectivity for the transmission of information to other networked devices. Moreover, the television  100  may incorporate the multimedia decoder modular card  140  to process multimedia data. The processing performed by the multimedia decoder modular card  140  may include, for example, decoding or transcoding encoded multimedia data, encoding unencoded multimedia data, decrypting encrypted multimedia data, and the like. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the multimedia data processed by the decoder modular card  140  may be obtained from an external multimedia device, such as a DVD player, via the interfaces  122 - 128 . Alternatively, the multimedia data may be received as a multimedia data stream via the network interface  118  or via the wireless interface modular card  142 . The video content of the resulting processed multimedia data may be displayed on the display  102  or the resulting processed multimedia data may be provided to one or more networked devices via the network interface  118  or the wireless network interface modular card  142 . Various exemplary techniques for processing multimedia data using the multimedia decoder modular card  140  are discussed in greater detail herein with respect to  FIGS. 3-8 . 
     The television  100  can also incorporate the audio receiver modular card  144  to process audio data for output to one or more speakers. In one embodiment, the audio receiver modular card  144  provides many of the features commonly found in separate stereo receivers. The audio data may be received from an external audio device, e.g., a portable music player, via one or more audio inputs  150 . Alternately, the audio data may be received via the network interface  118  or the wireless network interface modular card  142 . The resulting processed audio data may be provided to one or more wired speakers via speaker outputs  152  or the resulting processed audio data may be provided to one or more wireless speakers via, for example, the wireless network interface modular card  142 . Various exemplary techniques for processing audio data using the audio receiver modular card  144  are discussed in greater detail herein with respect to  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     The television  100  further may incorporate the video game console modular card  146  to process video game data in response to controller input in order to generate game play for display at the display  102  and output via one or more speakers. The controller input relevant to the game play may be received via one or more controller interfaces  156  connected to corresponding game controllers, commonly referred to as “game pads” or “joysticks”, via wired or wireless connections. Video game data processed by the video game console modular card  146  may be obtained from an external device, such as a DVD player that is capable of obtaining video game data from game CDs or DVDs. Additionally, the video game data may be obtained a networked device via the network interface  118  or the wireless network interface modular card  142 . Moreover, the network interface  118  or the wireless network interface modular card  142  may be used to transmit game play information to other networked devices for use in, for example, a real-time multiple player video game. Various exemplary techniques for obtaining video game data and for video game processing by the video game console modular card  146  are discussed in greater detail herein with reference to  FIGS. 14-18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary implementation  200  of the television  100  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The television  100  includes one or more processors  202 , one or more storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM)  204 , a read only memory or flash memory  206  or a hard disk  208 , a direct memory access (DMA) controller  210  and a display controller  212  coupled to the display  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The television  100  also can include an overlay graphics generator  214 , a network communications processor  216  connected to the network interface  118 , a conditional access unit  218 , and an audio output  220 . The television  100  further can include modular card receptacles  222 ,  224 ,  226  and  228  connected to the multimedia decoder modular card  140 , the audio receiver modular card  144 , the video game console modular card  146  and the wireless network interface modular card  142 , respectively. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the television  100  can further include the remote control interface  106 , the RF antenna interface  120 , the IN component  112 , the OUT component  114  and the DVD IN component  114  of the panel  110  ( FIG. 1 ). In the illustrated example, some components of the television  100  can be connected via a first bus  232  while other components can be connected via a second bus  234 . Further, the busses  232  and  234  can be connected by a bus bridge  236 . 
     The processor  202  can perform multimedia processing routines in accordance with an operating system (OS)  230  and facilitates the functions performed by the modular cards that are connected to the modular card receptacles  222 - 228  of the television  100  by routing information between the components or by handling various aspects of the functions performed by the modular cards. In a particular embodiment, in order to provide prompt, real-time interaction with a television user, e.g., by displaying video content promptly upon request, the OS  230  is a real-time OS having specific functionality that is configured to streamline the operations of the processor  202  and limit the delay between receiving a user request and providing the requested action. 
     For example, in one embodiment, the OS  230  is stored in the flash memory  206  when the television is powered down, and upon a user request to power up the television, e.g., via the user control buttons  104  or the remote control interface  106 , at least a portion of the OS  230  is loaded into a cache of the processor  202  so that the video content of a video data source selected at power up is provided for display within at least ten seconds of receiving the request, or within five seconds or within two seconds of receiving the user request. Additionally, the streamlined OS  230  can allow the television  100  to display video content promptly upon receiving other types of user requests, such as a user request to change television channels or a user request to activate game play associated with video game data processed by the video game console modular card  146 . As such, the television  100  can provide the traditional television experience in which changes in the video content displayed and/or the audio content output occur promptly in response to the user&#39;s input as one or more requests. 
     During operation, the various components of the television  100  communicate information via the busses  232  and  234  in order to perform various multimedia-related functions. For example, the communications processor  216  provides communications protocol-specific processing for data received via the network interface  118  and for data to be transmitted on a packet-based network via the network interface  118 . Further, the communications processor  216  may implement one or more functions associated with, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) seven-layer model or the Telecommunications Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack. During operation, incoming data that is processed by the communications processor  216  can be routed to one or more of the components of the television  100  as appropriate. The DMA controller  210  can control access to the RAM  204  and/or the ROM  206  by the components of the television  100 . Moreover, the overlay graphics generator  214  can generates overlay graphics that overlay the display graphics that are output to the display  102  by the display controller  212 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the modular cards  140 - 146  may communicate information with each other and with other components of the television, e.g., the processor  202  or the display controller  212 , using the modular card receptacles  222 - 228  and the bus  234 . For example, the wireless network interface modular card  142  or the network interface  118  may be used to receive/transmit multimedia data for the decoder modular card  140 , receive/transmit audio data for the audio receiver modular card  144 , or receive/transmit video game data and related information for the video game console modular card  146 . Alternately, multimedia data or video game data may be received via one or more of the RF antenna interface  120 , the IN component  112 , or the DVD IN component  114 . Further, video data that represents video content may be provided from the decoder modular card  140  or the video game console modular card  146  to the display controller  212  so that the video content is displayed by the display  102 . Similarly, audio data representing audio content may be provided from the audio receiver modular card  144  to the audio output  220  for output of the audio content by one or more speakers of the television  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary implementation of the multimedia decoder modular card  140  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example depicted, the multimedia decoder modular card  140  includes a modular card receptacle interface  302 , an input buffer  304 , a decryption module  305 , a parser  306 , a video decoder  308 , a video output buffer  310 , an audio decoder  312  and an audio output buffer  314 . In a particular embodiment, the incoming buffer  304  and the output buffers  310  and  314  may be implemented together as a single buffer. 
     During operation, incoming multimedia data that is to be processed by the decoder modular card  140  is buffered in the incoming buffer  304 . In at least one embodiment, the multimedia data is part of an MPEG data stream. Accordingly, the parser  306  parses the multimedia data to identify the relevant video and/or audio data to be processed. Then, the parser  306  provides the video data to the video decoder  308 . The video decoder  308  decodes, or transcodes, the video data and the resulting decoded/transcoded data can be stored in the outgoing video buffer  310  before being provided to the bus  234  ( FIG. 2 ) for transmission to one or more components of the television  100 . Similarly, the audio decoder  312  decodes or transcodes the audio data. Audio data is decoded/transcoded by the audio decoder  312  and the resulting decoded/transcoded audio data is buffered in the outgoing audio buffer  314  before being provided to the bus  234  for transmission to one or more other components of the television  100 . 
     Alternately, in one embodiment, the received multimedia data includes unencoded multimedia data. In this instance, the video decoder  308  also may provide a video encoder to encode the video data to generate encoded video data (e.g., MPEG data) and the audio decoder  312  may include an audio encoder to encode the audio data to generate encoded audio data. 
     In at least one embodiment, the received multimedia data is encrypted or otherwise protected to prevent unauthorized access to the multimedia content. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment the integrated decoder modular card  140  further comprises a decryption module  305  to process the protected multimedia data to generate unprotected multimedia data using a decryption key  307  supplied by, for example, a provider of the protected multimedia data. In one embodiment, the decryption module  305  processes the protected multimedia data before it is provided to the parser  306 . Alternately, the decryption module  305  could be implemented at the output of the parser  306  or as part of the decoders  308  and  312 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary method  400  for processing multimedia data at a networked television is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  400  includes receiving a multimedia data stream at the network interface  118  of the television  100  at block  402 . At block  404 , video data from the multimedia data stream is processed at a multimedia decoder of the television to generate video content. At block  406 , audio data from the multimedia data stream is processed at the multimedia decoder of the television to generate audio content. The multimedia decoder may include a multimedia decoder that is integrated into a core processing component of the television (e.g., an MPEG decoder chip) or the multimedia decoder may include a multimedia decoder modular card  140 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . Further, in one embodiment, the audio data and video data are processed by separate components. To illustrate, the audio data can be processed by, for example, the audio receiver modular card  144  whereas the video data can be processed by an integrated multimedia decoder or the multimedia decoder modular card  140 . At block  408 , the video content is provided to the display  102  of the television  100  for viewing by a user. At block  410 , the audio content is provided for output to one or more speakers. The speakers receiving the audio content may be speakers integrated with the television  100  or they may include, for example, speakers wired to the speaker outputs  152  ( FIG. 1 ) or speakers wirelessly connected to the television  100  via the wireless network interface modular card  142  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary method  500  for providing multimedia data to the television  100  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  500  includes providing a first data stream including multimedia data from a content provider to the television  100  via a packet-based network, such as, for example, an IP-compliant network at block  502 . As noted above, the television  100 , in one embodiment, includes a network interface  118  ( FIG. 1 ) to a packet-based network to receive multimedia data and a multimedia decoder to process the multimedia data. As noted above, the content provider may seek to limit distribution of the multimedia content represented by the multimedia data. Accordingly, at block  504 , the content provider can provide an indicator of a maximum number of televisions authorized to receive the multimedia content represented by the first data stream. In response to this indicator, the television  100  can provide data representative of the multimedia content to a number of networked devices at block  506 , where the number of networked devices receiving the multimedia content is limited based on the indicator. Further, in one embodiment, the content provider may bill the user of the television  100  for services that include providing the first data stream. Moving to  508 , billing is performed for a service that includes providing the first data stream. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , an exemplary technique for redistributing multimedia data is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted by  FIG. 6 , a multimedia content provider  602  (e.g., an operation maintained by a cable television provider or telecommunications company) may be coupled to television  606  via a packet-based network  604 , such as, for example, the Internet or a private network. As part of a broadcast, or in response to a user request, the content provider  602  provides encoded multimedia data  612  to the television  606  via the network  604 . The encoded multimedia data  612  is received at the television  606  via a network interface (e.g., network interface  118 ,  FIG. 1 ) connected to the network  604 . The multimedia data  612  can be processed by a multimedia decoder of the television  606  (e.g., multimedia decoder modular card  140 ,  FIG. 1 ) to generate processed multimedia data  614 . Various operations performed on the multimedia data  612  by the television  606  to generate the processed multimedia data  614  may include decoding or transcoding the multimedia data  612 , decrypting the multimedia data  612 , and the like. 
     The resulting processed multimedia data  614  can be provided to one or more networked devices for further processing and/or display. In the example illustrated by  FIG. 6 , the processed multimedia data  614  is transmitted to another television  608  via the network  604 . The television  608  may further process the multimedia data  614  for display or for storage. In the example illustrated by  FIG. 7 , the processed multimedia data  614  may be communicated wirelessly between the television  606  and the television  608  using wireless transceivers  702  and  704 , respectively. The wireless transceivers  702  and  704  may be implemented as, for example, the wireless network interface modular card  142  ( FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method  800  for redistributing multimedia content as described with respect to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The method  800  includes receiving a first multimedia data stream at a first network interface of a television at block  802 , wherein the first network interface is coupled to a packet-based network. The first multimedia data stream may be provided as a scheduled broadcast or may be provided by a content provider in response to a user request for the first multimedia data stream. At block  804 , the first multimedia data stream is processed at a multimedia decoder of the television to generate a second multimedia data stream. The multimedia decoder can include, for example, an integrated multimedia decoder or the multimedia decoder modular card  140  ( FIG. 1 ). The processing performed on the first multimedia data stream can include, for example, decoding the first multimedia data stream or transcoding the first multimedia data stream. Moreover, in one embodiment, the first multimedia data stream may include protected multimedia data. Accordingly, the processing performed on the first multimedia data stream further may include decrypting the first multimedia data stream including the protected multimedia data. At block  806 , the second multimedia data stream is provided to a networked device via a second network interface of the television. The second multimedia data stream may be provided via the same packet-based network used to receive the first multimedia data stream. In this case, the second network interface and the first network interface may be the same network interface. Alternately, the second multimedia data stream may be provided via another packet-based network (e.g., a wireless network) and therefore may be a different network interface than the first network interface. 
     The exemplary techniques illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8  allow a single television to act as the distribution point for multimedia content received from a content provider. To illustrate, because the television  100 , in one embodiment, decodes and/or decrypts the encoded multimedia data  612  to generate unencoded and/or decrypted multimedia data  614 , the networked devices receiving the multimedia data  614  (e.g., television  608 ) do not need to utilize a decoder and/or decryption module to process the multimedia data for display as video and/or audio content. As a result, the decoding/decryption components of the networked devices receiving the multimedia data  614  may be disabled, thereby reducing the power consumption of the networked devices. Moreover, the networked devices may be supplied without decoding/decryption components, thereby reducing their complexity and cost. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an exemplary implementation of the audio receiver modular card  144  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the audio receiver modular card  144 , in one embodiment, includes a modular card receptacle interface  902 , a buffer  904 , one or more digital signal processors (DSPs)  906 , a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  908 , an RF interface  910 , an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  912 , a display control module  914 , the audio input  150  and one or more speaker outputs  922 ,  924 ,  926 ,  928 , and  930 . 
     In operation, audio data to be processed can be received from other components of the television via the modular card receptacle interface  902  or from an external audio source via the audio input  150  or via an RF transmission received at the RF interface  910  and converted to digital data by the ADC  912 . The received audio data can be buffered in the buffer  904  until accessed by the DSP  906  for processing. Processing operations performed by the DSP  906  can include, for example, decoding (e.g., decoding from an MPEG or MP3 format), decryption, filtering, stereo enhancement, equalization and the like. For example, in one embodiment the DSP  906  performs surround sound processing of the audio data consistent with one or more surround sound standards, such as Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Theater System (DTS) Surround, THX Surround EXTM, and the like. 
     The resulting processed audio data may be provided to one or more other components of the television via the modular card receptacle interface  902 . For example, the processed audio data may be provided for output to one or more wired speakers via the speaker outputs  922 ,  924 ,  926 ,  928 , and  930  after digital-to-analog conversion by the DAC  908 . In the illustrated example, the speaker output  922  connects to a right rear (RR) speaker, the speaker output  924  connects to a right front (RF) speaker, the speaker output  926  connects to a center speaker, the speaker output  928  connects to a left front (LF) speaker and the speaker output  930  connects to a left rear (LR) speaker. Alternately, as illustrated with reference to  FIG. 10 , the processed audio data (illustrated as audio data  1001 ) can be provided from the audio receiver modular card  144  to the wireless network interface modular card  142  for transmission to one or more wireless speakers  1002 ,  1004 ,  1006 , and  1008 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the display control module  914  provides display content representing information about the audio receiver modular card  144  for display on the display  102  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, the display control module  914  may provide graphical data representing equalization settings, where the graphical content of the graphical data is laid over video content from another source on the display  102 . Other information for display can include, for example, volume settings, speaker setup, artist and track information, and the like. Moreover, in one embodiment, the operation of the audio receiver card module  144  is responsive to user commands (e.g., remote control commands). For example, after displaying the current equalization settings on the display  102 , remote control commands from a user representing a desired change in equalization settings can be received by the display control module  914 . In response, the display control module  914  can send a signal to the DSP  906  to change the equalization settings as well as provide updated equalization settings graphical display information for display by the display  102  so that the user can visually confirm that the requested changes are made. Other operations affected by user input can include, for example, volume settings, channel selection, track selection, speaker setup, surround sound settings, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , an exemplary method  1100  for providing audio data for processing at a networked television is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  1100  includes providing an audio data stream to the television via a packet-based network at block  1102 . In one embodiment, the television comprises an exterior interface panel including a plurality of interface connections, a network interface to the packet based network to receive the multimedia data, and an audio receiver modular card (e.g., audio receiver modular card  144 ,  FIG. 1 ) to process the audio data stream. In certain instances, a content provider may attempt to protect the audio data stream by encrypting the audio data. In such instances, the audio receiver modular card may have access to a decryption key provided by the content provider, at block  1104 , or otherwise made available to the audio receiver modular card. The audio receiver modular card thus may use this decryption key to decrypt or otherwise decode the protected audio data. At block  1106 , a user of the television is billed for services including providing the audio data stream to the television. For example, the user may have subscribed to a service and may receive a monthly bill. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , an exemplary method  1200  for processing audio data using the audio receiver modular card  144  is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  1200  includes receiving first audio data at an audio receiver modular card of a television via a first network interface of the television (e.g., network interface  118  of television  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) at block  1202 . At block  1204 , the first audio data is processed at the audio receiver modular card to generate second audio data. Processing operations performed by the audio receiver modular card may include, for example, decoding, filtering, formatting, and the like. At block  1206 , the second audio data is provided for output to one or more speakers. In one embodiment, the second audio data is provided to one or more speakers via one or more speaker outputs of the audio receiver modular card. In an alternate embodiment, the second audio data is wirelessly transmitted to one or more wireless speakers via a wireless network interface of the television (e.g., wireless network interface modular card  142 ,  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , an exemplary implementation of the video game console modular card  146  is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the depicted example, the game console modular card  146  includes a modular card receptacle interface  1302  for connecting to a modular card receptacle of the networked television  100  ( FIG. 2 ), flash memory  1304 , one or more processors  1306 , RAM  1308 , ROM  1310 , a hard disk  1312 , a graphics engine  1314 , a video game tuner  1316 , and one or more game controller interfaces  156 . 
     In operation, video game data is provided to the television  100  via a network or by an external video game data source, such as a DVD player. The video game data is forwarded to the game console modular card  146  via the modular card receptacle interface  1302 . The video game data may be stored in flash memory  1304 , RAM  1308  and/or the hard disk  1312 . The video game tuner  1316  manages the storage of video game data supplied to the television via one or more transmission channels. 
     The processor  1306  executes instructions represented by the video game data in response to user game controller signals received via the game controller interfaces  156 . As noted above, the game controller interfaces  156  may include interfaces to wired game controllers or may include wireless interfaces to wireless game controllers. Data representing the video content of the game play is provided to the graphics engine  1314  whereupon the data is rendered into display data for output to the display  102  ( FIG. 1 ) of the television. Data representing the audio content is processed by the processor  1306  or by an audio decoder (not shown) of the modular card  146 . Alternately, the audio data is provided to the audio receiver card  144  or to the multimedia decoder card  140  for processing. The resulting audio content is output to one or more speakers associated with the television (e.g., integrated speakers or speakers connected via the audio receiver modular card  144 ,  FIG. 1 ). The data representative of the video/audio content can be provided to a core component of the television  100  (e.g., the processor  202  or a dedicated television graphics engine) via the modular card receptacle interface  1302  for rendering into display data and output audio content. 
     In some instances, the game play represented by the video game data may be multiplayer game play that occurs among multiple players in separate locations. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, the processor  1306  provides game play information for transmission by other game consoles involved in the same game play. To illustrate, the game play information is provided to the other components of the television  100  via the modular card receptacle interface  1302 , whereby the game play information may be communicated to other networked game consoles via the network interface  118  ( FIG. 1 ) or wirelessly communicated to other wireless game consoles via the wireless network interface modular card  142  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , an exemplary method  1400  for processing video game data at a video game console modular card of a television is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  1400  includes receiving video game data at the television via a network interface to a packet-based network at block  1402 . In one embodiment, the video game data is received as part of a multimedia data stream transmitted by a multimedia content provider via the packet-based network. For example, the video game data could be represented by one or more transmission channels of the multimedia data stream. At block  1404 , at least a portion of the video game data is provided to the game console modular card (e.g., the game console modular card  146 ) via a first modular card receptacle of the television. At block  1406 , the video game data is processed to provide game play content for display by the television, wherein the game play content is based on user control signals received via one or more game controller interfaces of the game console modular card. At block  1408 , video game data associated with the game play is rendered at a graphics engine of the game console modular card to generate rendered display data, and, at block  1410 , the rendered display data is provided for display via the first modular card receptacle. At block  1412 , game play information is communicated with one or more networked devices (e.g., other networked televisions having game console modular cards) via the first network interface or via a second network interface, such as a wireless network interface modular card. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 15-18 , exemplary techniques for providing video game data via one or more transmission channels are illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 15  illustrates an exemplary video game distribution system  1500  including a video game provider  1502  and a networked device  1504  connected via a network  1506 . The networked device  1504  may include any of a variety of devices capable of receiving and processing multimedia transmissions comprising a plurality of transmission channels (such as, for example, a digital cable transmission or a satellite television transmission). For ease of illustration, the networked device  1504  is discussed in the context of a networked television as described in detail above. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the video game provider  1502  includes video game data storage  1510  for storing video game data associated with one or more video games, a list generator  1512 , a multimedia stream generator  1514 , and an authentication module  1516 . 
     In operation, the multimedia stream generator  1514  generates one or more multimedia data streams  1520  for transmission to the networked device  1504 . In addition to transmission channels having conventional video and/or audio data representative of television programs or radio programs, such as video channels  1521  and  1522 , one or more transmission channels of the multimedia data stream  1520  can include video game data, such as game channels  1523 - 1525 . Accordingly, to download the video game data associated with a particular video game, the networked device  1504  may select the game channel of the multimedia data stream  1520  associated with a desired video game and may store video game data transmitted via the selected channel. 
     To illustrate, a user of the networked device  1504  may provide a remote control command or other user input that causes the networked device to “tune” to a transmission channel selected by the user. Once “tuned” to this channel, the networked device  1504  may provide a request for the associated video game data from the video game provider  1502 . The authentication module  1516  authenticates an identifier associated with the user request to determine whether the user is authorized to access the video game data. If so authorized, the multimedia stream generator  1514  obtains the requested video game data from the video game data storage  1510  and inserts the requested video game data into the appropriate game channel of the multimedia data stream  1520 . The authentication module  1516  further may store the request for video game data for billing purposes associated with providing the requested video game data. 
     Alternately, the video game data associated with one or more video games may be inserted by the multimedia stream generator  1514  in a repeating manner. In this instance, once the networked device  1504  is “tuned” to the selected game channel, the networked device  1504  may delay storing the video game data in the selected game channel until the starting byte of the video game data is retransmitted in the next iteration. Rather than waiting for the starting byte of the video game data, the networked device  1504  instead can identify an entry point where the networked device  1504  began storing video game data transmitted in the selected game channel and can cease storing video game data when the identified entry point is encountered again during the next transmit iteration of the video game data. For example, if the networked device  1504  tunes to the selected channel and starts recording the video game data at byte  1000 , the networked device  1504  would continue to record the video game data through the end byte of the present iteration until byte  999  of the next iteration is encountered. Thus, the networked device  1504  can store the entire video game data without delaying until the start of the next iteration of the transmission of the video game data in the selected transmission channel. 
     The association of video games and their corresponding transmission channels may be provided to a user in any of a variety of ways. For example, a printed publication could be provided that indicates which transmission channels are used to carry the video game data of certain video games. However, the use of a printed publication typically results in a static assignment of channels and may cause inconvenience on the part of the user if the printed publication is misplaced or otherwise unavailable. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, the list generator  1512  generates one or more lists for display as video content, where the lists, when displayed, provide an indication of available video games and identifiers (e.g., channel numbers) of their corresponding transmission channels. An exemplary display of a list is discussed below with reference to  FIG. 16 . The lists of available video games may be organized by any of a variety of characteristics, such as rankings, genres, costs, system requirements, and the like. To illustrate, the list generator  1512  can generate, for example, a list of the top five video game rentals, a list of the top ten bestselling video games, a list of newly introduced video games, a list of action/adventure video games, a list of role-playing video games, a list of video games suitable for children, and other lists. 
     Multimedia data representative of the one or more generated lists can be provided to the networked device  1504  as one or more list channels, such as list channels  1526  and  1527 , of the multimedia data stream  1520 . Accordingly, when the networked device  1504  is “tuned” to a list channel, the network device  1504  may provide the video content representative of the list associated with the selected list channel for display at the networked device. The user, upon viewing the video content representative of the list, may ascertain the transmission channel carrying data for the video game in which the user is interested. The user then can direct the networked device  1504  to “tune” to the identified transmission channel (using, for example, remote control commands) so that the video game data can be obtained from the identified transmission channel and stored (e.g., at the hard disk  1312  of the video game console modular card  146 ,  FIG. 13 ) for subsequent use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , an exemplary display of a list of video games at a networked device (e.g., the television  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the depicted example, the displayed list  1600  provides a listing of five available video games (video games A, B, C, D and E) identified as being the top five in rental frequency. Each video game listed also includes a visual indicator of the transmission channel that carries the video game data representing the video game. For example, the visual indicator may include “select channel” icons  1602 ,  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608 , and  1610  corresponding to video games A, B, C, D, and E, respectively, where the icons  1602 ,  1604 ,  1606 ,  1608 , and  1610  provide a visual representation of the corresponding transmission channels (e.g., channels  101 ,  102 ,  103 ,  104 , and  105 ). The displayed list  1600  further may include screen shots  1612 ,  1614 ,  1616 ,  1618 , and  1620  for one or more of the listed video games, as well as written descriptions, critic reviews or ratings of the listed video games (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , an exemplary method  1700  for providing video game data as one or more transmission channels of a multimedia data stream is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. At block  1702 , a multimedia data stream is provided for reception by a display device, where the multimedia data stream includes a first channel having video content representing a first list of available video games and their corresponding channel identifiers and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list and where the second channel is associated with a first channel identifier corresponding to the first video game. The multimedia data stream also can include other channels associated with other video games. The multimedia data stream can be provided as, for example, a digital cable television transmission or a satellite television transmission, a multimedia data stream transmitted over a packet-switched network. In at least one embodiment, the display device is a networked device, such as a networked television as discussed above. 
     To discourage unauthorized access, the video game data can be encrypted, such as at the video game content provider, prior to providing the multimedia data stream or prior to inserting the video game data into the multimedia data stream. Accordingly, a decryption key that is used to decrypt the encrypted video game data may be provided by the video game content provider or otherwise made available to the networked device. In one embodiment, the identification of the networked device is verified prior to providing or making the decryption key available. This verification process may include verifying that the particular display device and/or a particular user are authorized to use the video game data. 
     In one embodiment, the video game data associated with the first video game is provided in a continuous loop as the second transmission channel. Alternately, the video game data associated with the first video game is provided by a video game content provider in response to a user request for the video game data from the networked device. The user request may be initiated by a user remote control command directing the networked device to tune to the transmission channel identified by the first channel identifier. 
     As noted above, the multimedia data stream may represent the transmission of multimedia content in accordance with a service agreement or arrangement between a user and a content provider. Accordingly, at block  1704  the user&#39;s access of the video game data from the second channel is noted at the content provider and a charge is included in a billing statement sent to the user for the service that includes providing the multimedia data stream. 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , an exemplary method  1800  for obtaining video game data from one or more channels of a multimedia data stream is illustrated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method  1800  includes receiving a multimedia data stream at a system including a display device at block  1802 . The multimedia data stream includes a first channel having video content representing a first list of available video games and their corresponding channel identifiers and a second channel having video game data associated with a first video game of the first list. The second channel is associated with a first channel identifier corresponding to the first video game. In one embodiment, the system includes a networked television (e.g., television  100 ,  FIG. 1 ) having a game console modular card (e.g., game console modular card  146 ,  FIG. 1 ) to process the received data. In one embodiment, the storage of video game data at a hard disk  1312  ( FIG. 13 ) of the game console modular card  146  is handled by the video game tuner  1316 . 
     At block  1804 , the video content representing the first list of games is provided for display at the display device. In the event that the system includes a networked television as described above, the networked television may include a decoder, such as an integrated decoder or a decoder modular card  140  ( FIG. 1 ) to generate display data representative of the video content of the first channel for viewing by the user. At block  1806 , user input indicating a selection of the first channel identifier associated with the first video game of the first list is received in response to display of the video content. The user input may include, for example, a request to “tune” the system to the transmission channel associated with the first channel identifier, where the request may be a remote control command or input received via, for example, a channel change button. 
     At block  1808 , the video game data associated with the first video game from the second channel is obtained for storage at the system in response to receiving the user input. As noted above, the video game data may be provided in a single transmission at a predetermined time or in a continuous loop or the video game data can be added to the multimedia data stream in response to a request by the user. In the event that the data is provided in a continuous loop, obtaining the video game data can include identifying a start position within a present loop of the video game data and continuing to store the video game data until a corresponding position to the start position is encountered for the next loop of the video game data. In the event that the video game data is encrypted, at block  1810 , a decryption key can be received at the system in response to a verification of an identification of the system. At block  1812 , the video game data can be decrypted using the decryption key. In the event that the system includes the networked television  100 , the obtained video game data can be stored at the hard disk  1312  ( FIG. 13 ) of the video game console modular card  146  of the television  100  for subsequent processing to provide game play to a user. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.