In-home distribution residential gateway and/or set top box

摘要

A multimedia residential gateway device for providing video services to multiple televisions within a home. The device receives incoming video content from a DSL, DOCSIS, or Ethernet data stream and outputs selected content to individual televisions, with the content for each television being transmitted over an ATSC or NTSC channel associated with each television. This eliminates the need for multiple set top boxes in a high-definition offering. Radio frequency handheld remotes for each television are provided which communicate directly with the gateway device. The device may also be provided as a multi-television set top box, wherein the device receives Ethernet data streams from a customer's existing residential gateway.

主权项

1. A device for providing digital video signals to multiple televisions within a customer building, comprising:
a network module for receiving a packet-based data stream containing a plurality of digital video streams; a processing module for extracting the digital video streams from said packet-based data stream; an RF modulation module for converting said digital video streams into a plurality of RF modulated channel signals; an Ethernet module configured to send Ethernet over coax protocol signals to an Ethernet device over a first coaxial cable; a single remote control module located on a single physical chip configured to; receive radio frequency signals through a radio frequency antenna in communication with the single remote control module, said radio frequency signals being received directly from a first radio frequency handheld remote, said first radio frequency handheld remote being operable to control a separate one of said televisions which television is physically separated from the remote control module by at least one wall; receive infrared signals through an infrared sensor in communication with the single remote control module, said infrared signals being received from at least one infrared handheld remote, said infrared handheld remote being operable to control a separate one of said televisions which is not physically separated from the remote control module by a wall; and receive radio frequency signals from a second radio frequency handheld remote, said second radio frequency handheld remote being operable to control a separate one of said televisions which television is physically separated from the remote control module by at least one wall and wherein the radio frequency 27 signals from the second radio frequency handheld remote are transmitted directly 28 to a radio frequency repeater and the radio frequency signals are then transmitted 29 from the radio frequency repeater to the remote control module over one of the first or a second coaxial cable; an ATSC tuner module in communication with an RF bypass module providing for a user to bypass the output of the RF modulator and receive broadcast signals on at least one of said televisions within a customer building; wherein the device is configured to transmit said plurality of RF modulated channel signals to at least one of said televisions within a customer building; wherein one or more of said televisions may be tuned to receive at least one of said RF modulated channel signals; and wherein one or more of said televisions may be tuned to receive a broadcast signal through said ATSC tuner module and said RF bypass module.