Subscriber system for interactive interfacing with broadcast information

摘要

A subscriber system (10) includes a dual network interface module (12). The dual network interface module (12) includes slots for a video unit (20) and a bandwidth unit (22). The video unit (20) receives broadcast information from a service provider (24) for ultimate display and viewing by a subscriber at the subscriber system (10). The bandwidth unit (22) provides an interface to a telecommunications network (30) through a telecommunications element (28). The dual network interface module (12) also includes an AC carrier modem (32) that receives and sends information to a processor device (34) over existing AC power lines within the subscriber system (10). In this manner, interactive interfacing of broadcast information received at the video unit (20) can be performed at the processor device (34) through the bandwidth unit (22) and over the telecommunications network (30) on a real time basis. The use of an existing subscriber link (26) and the AC power lines within the subscriber system (10) allows for a cost effective and efficient technique for providing interactive services to subscribers connected to an existing telephone backbone.