BURIED DATA STREAM IN A WIRELESS HOME NETWORK

摘要

A method and apparatus is presented for burying a hidden data stream (214) into a combined network data stream (210). In the preferred embodiment, the network data stream (210) is an MPEG-2 type video data stream, and the hidden data stream (214) is embedded so that it is neither readily detectable nor easily removable from the network data stream (210). A home gateway (100) having a wireless transceiver (170) communicates with appliances (180-188) in the home (20) via this network data stream (210). The hidden data stream (210) can be embedded with a main data stream (212) either by the content provider (220) or by the gateway (100) in the home (20). At he appliance (180-188), the hidden stream (214) can be removed and is presented to or used by the user in a way appropriate for the appliance (180-188). Instructions as to how the hidden stream (214) is to be presented on the appliance (180-188) can be embedded into the hidden stream (214) itself. The hidden data stream (214) can be further used to control access to and control the content of the rest of the network data stream (212). Revenue generated by allowing access to the hidden data stream (210) can be utilized to subsidize the cost of the wireless network components.