Abstract:
A connector unit connects a television and a group of components in an entertainment system. The connector unit includes at least two first connectors, where each of the first connectors is configured to receive a different type of signal cable from a television, at least one second connector configured to receive a signal cable from one of the group of components, and at least one third connector configured to receive a signal cable from a second of the group of component.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/397,602, filed Jul. 23, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for connecting a group of components to a television.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Interconnecting components in an entertainment system has always been a difficult endeavor for even the most learned individual. This is especially true when individuals seek to interconnect a large number of components. For example, it is quite common for individuals to desire to connect cable or satellite receivers, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital video disk (DVD) players, camcorders, video game consoles, surround sound systems, computers, and the like to a television set. People often struggle, however, determining what type(s) of cables to use (e.g., coaxial cables, S video cables, 3 RCA cables, etc.) to interconnect all of these components and where on these different components to connect the cables. As a result, people often require assistance from an experienced individual to properly connect the entertainment components.  
           [0004]    In some instances, the components in a person&#39;s entertainment system may only accept specific types of cables. For example, an older television set may only include a connector for receiving a coaxial cable. Newer components, such as DVD players, video game consoles, and the like, however, may only include connectors for receiving an S video cable and/or a  3  RCA cable. To properly connect the newer components to the older television set, the individual would be required to purchase specialized splitters and adapters for routing signals been the non-analogous connectors. Again, people often require the assistance of an experienced individual to make these types of interconnections.  
           [0005]    Therefore, there exists a need for systems and methods that facilitate the interconnection of components in an entertainment system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Systems and methods consistent with the present invention address this and other needs by providing a mechanism that allows for components in an entertainment system to be easily interconnected.  
           [0007]    In accordance with the purpose of this invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a system for routing signals in an entertainment system is disclosed. The system includes one or more television connectors, one or more cable/satellite receiver connectors, one or more video cassette recorder connectors, one or more digital video disk connectors, and a converter unit. The television connectors are configured to receive one or more connector cables from a television. The cable/satellite receiver connectors are configured to receive one or more connector cables from one of a cable receiver and satellite receiver. The video cassette recorder connectors are configured to receive one or more connector cables from one or more video cassette recorders. The digital video disk connectors are configured to receive one or more connector cables from a digital video disk device. The converter unit is configured to format signals for transmission amongst the television, the cable or satellite receiver, the one or more video cassette recorders, and the digital video disk device.  
           [0008]    In another implementation consistent with the present invention, a system for routing signals in an entertainment system is provided. The system includes one or more first connectors, one or more second connectors, one or more third connectors, and a converter unit. The one or more first connectors receive one or more connector cables from a first entertainment component. The one or more second connectors receive one or more connector cables from a second entertainment component. The one or more third connectors receive one or more connector cables from a third entertainment component. The converter unit converts signals received via one of the first, second, and third connectors from a first format to one or more different formats, and routes the signals between the first, second, and third connectors.  
           [0009]    In yet another implementation consistent with the present invention, a method for interconnecting a group of components in an entertainment system is provided. The method includes connecting a television to a connector unit, connecting the group of components to the connector unit, and routing signals between the group of components and the television via the connector unit.  
           [0010]    In a further implementation consistent with the present invention, a method for routing signals via a connector unit configured to interconnect a television and a plurality of components is provided. The method includes receiving one or more signals in a first format from one of the plurality of components, converting the one or more signals from the first format to one of a plurality of different formats, and transmitting the one or more signals in the different format to the television.  
           [0011]    In still a further implementation consistent with the present invention, a connector unit for use in an entertainment system including a television and a group of components is provided. The connector unit includes at least two first connectors, where each of the first connectors is configured to receive a different type of signal cable from a television, at least one second connector configured to receive a signal cable from one of the group of components, and at least one third connector configured to receive a signal cable from a second of the group of component. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, explain the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system in which systems and methods, consistent with the present invention, may be implemented;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the connector unit of FIG. 1 in an implementation consistent with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary functional block diagram of the connector unit of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary alternative functional block diagram of the connector unit of FIG. 1; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary process for connecting components to a television in an implementation consistent with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    The following detailed description of implementations consistent with the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0019]    Implementations consistent with the present invention provide a connector device for interconnecting components of an entertainment system. The connector unit includes a group of connectors that are separated by the component to which the connectors should be connected. For example, the connectors for connecting to a television are separated from the connectors for a cable/satellite receiver, DVD player/recorder, VCR, and other common peripheral components. The connector unit formats signals transmitted between the components of the entertainment system based on the particular cables with which the components are connected to the connector unit thereby allowing the components of the entertainment system to be easily interconnected.  
       Exemplary System  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system  100  in which systems and methods, consistent with the present invention, may be implemented. System  100  includes a television  110 , a DVD device  120 , a VCR  130 , a video game device  140 , a cable/satellite receiver unit  150 , a computer  160 , and a connector unit  170 . The number of components illustrated in FIG. 1 has been shown for simplicity. It will be appreciated that a typical system may include more or fewer components than illustrated in FIG. 1. Moreover, it will be appreciated that system  100  may include other devices that may connect to a television, such as a surround sound system, a camcorder, or the like, not illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    Television  110  may include any type of conventional television capable of presenting video and/or audio signals to a user. Alternatively, television  110  may include one or more display devices, such as a computer display, capable of displaying video to a user. Television  110  may include one or more connectors for transmitting and/or receiving video and/or audio signals. For example, television  110  may include a coaxial cable connector, an S video cable connector, and/or a 3 RCA cable connector that allows the television to transmit/receive video and/or audio signals via a coaxial cable, S video cable, and 3 RCA cable, respectively.  
         [0022]    DVD device  120  may include one or more conventional DVD players capable of playing DVDs or compact disks. DVD device  120  may also include a DVD recorder capable of recording video and audio to a compact disk. DVD device  120  may include one or more connectors for transmitting/receiving video and audio signals. For example, DVD device  120  may include an S video cable connector and/or a 3 RCA cable connector.  
         [0023]    VCR  130  may include any conventional VCR device capable of playing and/or recording video and audio signals. VCR  130  may include one or more connectors for transmitting/receiving video and audio signals. For example, VCR  130  may include a coaxial cable connector, an S video cable connector, and/or a 3 RCA cable connector.  
         [0024]    Video game device  140  may include any conventional video game device, such as those produced by Sony™ and Nintendo™. Video game device  140  may include one or more connectors for transmitting video and audio signals. For example, video game device  140  may include a coaxial cable connector and/or a 3 RCA cable connector.  
         [0025]    Cable/satellite receiver unit  150  may include any conventional cable and/or satellite receiver unit. Cable/satellite receiver unit  150  may include one or more connectors for transmitting video and audio signals. For example, cable/satellite receiver unit  150  may include a coaxial cable connector, an S video cable connector, and/or a 3 RCA cable connector.  
         [0026]    Computer  160  may include a desktop computer, laptop, or any other type of computer device. Computer  160  may include one or more connectors for transmitting and/or receiving video and audio signals. For example, computer  160  may include an S video connector.  
         [0027]    Connector unit  170  facilitates the interconnection of the components  110 - 160  of system  100 . Connector unit  170  may include a group of connectors capable of interconnecting television  110 , DVD device  120 , VCR  130 , video game unit  140 , cable/satellite receiver unit  150 , and computer  160 . As will be described in detail below, connector unit  170  separates the connectors for the different components  110 - 160  of system  100  so as to aid a user in connecting the components  110 - 160 . Connector unit  170  may also include a group of converters for converting signals between different formats. For example, connector  170  may convert signals transported over a coaxial cable to the appropriate format for transport over S video cables, 3 RCA cables, or other types of cables.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration of connector unit  170  of FIG. 1 in an implementation consistent with the present invention. As illustrated, connector unit  170  may include a set of television connectors  210 , a set of cable/satellite connectors  220 , a set of VCR connectors  230 , a set of DVD connectors  240 , other sets of connectors  250 , and an optional power cord  270 . Power cord  270  allows connector  170  to be connected to a power supply. Alternatively, connector  170  may include a battery power supply (or some other type of power supply) or may not include any power supply. In such situations, connector  170  may not include power cord  270 .  
         [0029]    Television connector set  210  may include one or more connectors for interconnecting television  110  to connector unit  170 . The connectors may include, for example, a coaxial cable connector  264 , a 3 RCA cable connector  266 , and an S video cable connector  268 . Coaxial cable connector  264  is capable of receiving a coaxial cable. 3 RCA cable connector  266  is capable of receiving a 3 RCA cable. S video cable connector  268  is capable of receiving an S video cable.  
         [0030]    Cable/satellite connector set  220  may include one or more connectors for interconnecting cable/satellite receiver unit  150  to connector unit  170 . The connectors may include, for example, a coaxial cable connector  264 , a 3 RCA cable connector  266 , and an S video cable connector  268 . VCR connector set  230  may include connectors for interconnecting one or more VCRs  130  to connector unit  170 . The connectors may include, for example, coaxial cable connectors  264 , 3 RCA cable connectors (not shown), and S video cable connectors (not shown). Coaxial cable connectors  264  may include connectors via which video and audio signals are transmitted to VCR  130  and connectors via which video and audio signals are received from VCR  130 . Connector unit  170  may facilitate the connection of the appropriate coaxial cables to the appropriate coaxial cable connectors  264  by indicating on connector unit  170  where the cables are to be connected. For example, connector unit  170  may include labeling, such as “TO VCR INPUT” and “FROM VCR OUTPUT,” to aid a user in interconnecting connector unit  170  and VCR  130 . In an alternative implementation, VCR connector set  230  (and the other sections  210 ,  220 ,  240 , and  250 ) of connector unit  170  may include color coding (in addition to or as an alternative to labeling) to facilitate the connection of cables to the appropriate location on connector unit  170 .  
         [0031]    DVD connector set  240  may include one or more connectors for interconnecting DVD device  120  to connector unit  170 . The connectors may include, for example, 3 RCA cable connectors  266  and S video cable connectors  268 . When DVD device  120  includes recording capabilities, connector unit  170  may include separate connectors for receiving video and audio signals from DVD device  120  and separate connectors for transmitting video and audio signals to DVD device  120 . In such a situation, connector unit  170  may include labeling, such as “TO DVD INPUT” and “FROM DVD OUTPUT,” to aid a user in interconnecting DVD device  120  and connector unit  170 . Alternatively, a single connector may transport video and audio signals between DVD device  120  and connector unit  170 .  
         [0032]    Other connector set  250  may include one or more connectors for interconnecting other entertainment components, such as a video game unit  140 , a computer  160 , a camcorder, a surround sound system, and the like, to connector unit  170 . The connectors may include, for example, one or more coaxial cable connectors  264 , one or more 3 RCA cable connectors  266 , one or more S video cable connectors  268 , or other types of connectors.  
         [0033]    It will be appreciated that by labeling the different sections of connector unit  170  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 facilitates the connection of cables to connector unit  170 . For example, a user could readily determine that a coaxial cable from a television, such as television  110 , should be connected to the appropriate connector in television connector set  210 . Alternatively, color coding may be used to facilitate the connection of cables to connector unit  170 . The number and types of connectors in each connector set  210 - 250  have been provided for simplicity. It will be appreciated that connector unit  170  may include more or fewer connectors or other types of connectors than illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary functional block diagram of connector unit  170  of FIG. 1. As illustrated, connector unit  170  may include television (TV) connectors  210 , cable/satellite connectors  220 , VCR connectors  230 , DVD connectors  240 , other connectors  250 , and a converter unit  310 . As set forth above, TV connectors  210 , cable/satellite connectors  220 , VCR connectors  230 , DVD connectors  240 , and other connectors  250  may include coaxial cable connectors, 3 RCA cable connectors, S video cable connectors, and/or other conventional types of connectors.  
         [0035]    Converter unit  310  may include an S video/coax converter  312 , an S video/3 RCA converter  314 , a 3 RCA/coax converter  316 , other converters  318 , and a converter bypass unit  320 . S video/coax converter  312  formats signals transmitted over an S video cable for transmission over a coaxial cable, and vice versa, using well-known techniques. S video/3 RCA converter  314  formats signals transmitted over an S video cable for transmission over a 3 RCA cable, and vice versa, using well-known techniques. 3 RCA/coax converter  316  formats signals transmitted over a 3 RCA cable for transmission over a coaxial cable, and vice versa, using well-known techniques. Other converters  318  may include one or more converters that format signals for transmission between other types of conventional cables. Converter bypass unit  320  transports signals between similar connectors. For example, converter bypass unit  320  may transport signals between a coaxial connector of VCR connectors  230  and a coaxial connector of TV connectors  210 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative exemplary functional block diagram of connector unit  170  of FIG. 1. As illustrated, connector unit  170  may include TV connectors  210 , cable/satellite connectors  220 , VCR connectors  230 , DVD connectors  240 , other connectors  250 , and a converter unit  410 . As set forth above, TV connectors  210 , cable/satellite connectors  220 , VCR connectors  230 , DVD connectors  240 , and other connectors  250  may include coaxial cable connectors, 3 RCA cable connectors, S video cable connectors, and/or other conventional types of connectors.  
         [0037]    In this implementation, converter unit  410  may include a processor  412  and a memory  414 . Processor  412  may include any type of conventional processor or microprocessor that interprets and executes instructions. Memory  414  may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions for execution by processor  412  and/or a read only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device that stores static information and instructions for use by processor  412 .  
         [0038]    Processor  412  performs the functions described above with respect to converters  312 - 318  and converter bypass unit  320 . That is, processor  412  receives signals from a connector, formats the signals (if necessary), and forwards the signals to the appropriate destination connector. For example, assume that DVD device  120  transmits signals to television  110 . Assume further that DVD device  120  connects to connector unit  170  via an S video cable and that television  110  connects to connector unit  170  via a coaxial cable. In such a situation, processor  412  may receive signals from an S-video connector  268  of DVD connector set  240 , format the signals for transmission via a coaxial cable, and forward the signals to a coaxial connector  264  of television connector set  210 .  
       Exemplary Processing  
       [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary process for connecting components to a television in an implementation consistent with the present invention. Processing may begin by connecting a television, such as television  110 , to connector unit  170  [act  510 ]. As described above, television  110  may, for example, connect to an appropriate connector of television connector set  210  of connector unit  170  via a coaxial cable, 3 RCA cable, an S video cable, or some other similar type of cable. Other peripheral components may be connected to connector unit  170  [act  520 ]. These peripheral components may include, for example, DVD device  120 , VCR  130 , video game unit  140 , cable/satellite receiver unit  150 , computer  160 , a surround sound system, camcorder, or the like. Each of these peripheral components may connect to connector unit  170  via a coaxial cable, 3 RCA cable, S video cable, or another similar type of cable. As an example, DVD device  120  may connect to connector unit  170  via an S video cable. To connect DVD device  120 , a user may connect an S video cable to the appropriate output of DVD device  120  and connect the other end of the S video cable to S video connector  268  of DVD connector set  240 .  
         [0040]    Once television  110  and the desired peripheral components are connected to connector unit  170 , connector unit  170  may route video and/or audio signals between television  110  and the peripheral components and amongst the peripheral components, such as between cable/satellite receiver unit  150  and VCR  130  [act  530 ]. As described above, the routing of signals between the devices connected to connector unit  170  may involve formatting the signals for transmission via the appropriate connection cable. For example, connector unit  170  may format a signal received from a coaxial cable for transmission over an S video cable.  
         [0041]    In some situations, several peripheral components may attempt to transmit signals to television  110  (or some other component) simultaneously. During such instances, signals from specific peripheral devices may automatically be given priority over signals from other peripheral devices. For example, signals from VCR  130  and DVD  120  may be given priority over signals from cable/satellite receiver unit  150 . The priority of peripheral devices may be user configurable.  
       Conclusion  
       [0042]    Systems and methods consistent with the present invention provide a connector unit that facilitates the connection of peripheral components, such as DVD players/recorders, VCRs, video game consoles, cable and/or satellite receivers, computers, surround sound systems, camcorders, and the like, to a television. The connector unit separates the connectors for the different peripheral components and provides easy-to-understand labeling (and/or color coding) to aid users (especially unskilled users) in properly connecting and disconnecting peripheral components. Moreover, in those situations where several peripheral components are connected to the television, connector unit  170  aids in keeping the cables connecting the peripheral devices to the television from getting tangled and improves the overall appearance of the entertainment system.  
         [0043]    The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. For example, while the above description focused on interconnecting components using coaxial cables, 3 RCA cables, and S video cables, the present invention is equally applicable to the use of other types of cables. In addition, the present invention is not limited to interconnecting a television and peripheral components using a single connector unit, as illustrated above. Multiple connector units may be connected together to allow a greater number of entertainment components to be interconnected. Multiple connector units may be connected by, for example, connecting the connector units together using a coaxial cable, 3 RCA cable, S video cable, or some other conventional type of cable.  
         [0044]    The above implementations can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. Thus, the present invention is not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.  
         [0045]    While a series of acts has been described with regard to FIG. 5, the order of the acts may be varied in other implementations consistent with the present invention. Moreover, non-dependent acts may be implemented in parallel. No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.  
         [0046]    The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.