METHOD AND SET TOP BOX FOR USE IN A MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM

摘要

A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response.

主权项

1. A set top box comprising
a wired transceiver operably coupled to an in-home coaxial cable network to communicate with a plurality of client modules that are each coupled to at least one client device that includes a video display, wherein the plurality of client modules are remotely located on the in-home coaxial cable network at remote points from the set top box, wherein the wired transceiver receives a first video request from a first client module of the plurality of client modules and a second video request from a second client module of the plurality of client modules; at least one tuner operably coupled to receive video signals in a high definition format from at least one broadcast video source and operable to respond to the first video request via the in-home coaxial cable network from the first client module by tuning a video channel from the video signals to generate a first video stream; video storage module operably coupled to digitally record and store at least one video program included in the digital video signals, wherein the video storage module responds to receive the second video request and to generate a second video stream from the at least one video program digitally recorded and stored in the video storage module; and an encoding module operably coupled to format the first video stream and the second video stream in accordance with a packet format of the in-home coaxial cable network and forms a stream of channel data that includes the first video stream and the second video stream, wherein the encoding module controls delivery of the first video stream via the in-home coaxial cable network to the first client module in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the first client module, while also controlling delivery of the second video stream via the in-home coaxial cable network to the second client module in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the second client module.