Patent ID: 8763046

Claim:
In a stand-alone digital video receiver coupled to a stand-alone internet receiver, a method of delivering data to a display device comprising steps of: receiving a digital data stream including internet content data and digital program guide information from a first signal source, wherein the internet content data is received as a digital data transport stream in a separate broadcast channel that is selectable by a user and that is dedicated to providing the internet content data without ever providing a digital video transport stream or a digital audio transport stream; providing a single bi-directional data link operative to transmit data between the stand-alone digital receiver and the stand-alone internet receiver in accordance with at least two different transmission speeds; transmitting the internet content data and the digital program guide information to the stand-alone internet receiver through the single bi-directional data link in accordance with a first data transmission speed, wherein the stand-alone internet receiver processes the internet content data received through the single bi-directional data link to generate processed internet content data; transmitting a first control signal to the stand-alone internet receiver through the single bi-directional data link in accordance with a second data transmission speed different from the first data transmission speed, wherein the stand-alone internet receiver transmits a second control signal to the stand-alone digital video receiver through the single bi-directional data link in accordance with the second data transmission speed; wherein the stand-alone internet receiver receives analog program guide information from a second signal source and integrates the analog program guide information with the digital program guide information to generate a combined program guide; and wherein the stand-alone internet receiver provides the processed internet content data and data representative of the combined program guide to the display device.