ULTRA-WIDE BAND WIRELESS/POWER-LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING AUDIO-VIDEO CONTENT

摘要

A system for communicating content streams (i.e. voice, video, data) between a content server (12) connected to a power-line communications network (14) and a remote electronic device (40) having ultra-wide band connectivity with an interface module (16). The interface module (16) is a power-line communication/ultra-wide band (PLC/UWB) module preferably connected to a conventional power outlet (36) upon the power-line network. The interface module (16) converts the power-line signals from the server (12) to ultra-wide band signals which are broadcast for reception by the wireless electronic device (40). Return communications with the server (12) from the wireless electronic device (40) are also preferably supported. The power-line communication and/or ultra-wide band signal can also be encrypted for improved security. The content server (12) and interface module (16) are preferably configured to communicate content streams only within the portions of the bandwidth allocated by a bus master, which may comprise a content server (12) with programming for controlling bandwidth use on the physical power-line communications network.