Patent ID: 8321906

Claim:
A method, comprising: transcoding audio-visual information supplied by a television in a high definition multimedia interface standard format received via an high definition multimedia interface port in a portable set top box device to a first format compatible with a first external device, wherein the first format compatible with the first external device is user selectable or determined dynamically; storing the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information in a memory of the portable set top box device; generating a first transcoded signal from the first format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the first external device; determining if the first external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device; trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the first external device has the capacity to trickle charge; providing the first transcoded signal to the first external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the first external device via a network interface in the portable set top box; transcoding the audio-visual information to a second format compatible with a second external device; storing the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information in the memory of the portable set top box; generating a second transcoded signal from the second format of the transcoded audio-visual information for presentation or storage of the audio visual information on the second external device, wherein the second format compatible with the second external device is user selectable or determined dynamically; determining if the second external device has a capacity to trickle charge batteries of the portable set top box device; trickle charging batteries of the set top box device using power supplied by the television via the high definition multimedia interface port when a determination is made that the second external device has the capacity to trickle charge; providing the second transcoded signal to the second external device when the portable set top box is coupled with the second external device via the network interface in the portable set top box; and enabling the portable set top box to be utilized as an end user device for voice communications.