(19) 9)
`
`(12)
`
`Europfiisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office européen des brevets
`
`(11)
`
`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`23.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/04
`
`(21) Applicamn number: 019044395
`
`(22) Date of filing: 14.02.2001
`
`(51) um ci.7: H04L 29/06, H04L12/02,
`HO4N 7/173, H04H 1/08
`
`(86) International application number:
`PCT/JP01/01043
`
`(87) International publication number:
`WO 01/65803 (07.09.2001 Gazette 2001/36)
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
`MC NL PT SE TR
`
`Designated Extension States:
`AL LT LV MK RO SI
`
`(72) Inventors:
`- MATSUBARA, Fernando M.
`Santa Clara, CA 95054 (US)
`- POON, Tommy C.
`Murray Hill, NJ 07974 (us)
`
`(30) Priority: 28.02.2000 US 514705
`
`(74) Representative: Pfenning, Meinig & Partner
`Mozartstrasse 17
`
`(71) Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI
`KAISHA
`
`80336 Miinchen (DE)
`
`Tokyo 100-8310 (JP)
`
`(54) MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK ADAPTER
`
`A mobile network adapter includes a wireless
`(57)
`port (121) and an appliance port (111). The appliance
`port (111) is configured to physically connect to a wire-
`less mobile communications device (120) such as ace|-
`lular telephone. The wireless mobile communications
`device (120) is configured to communicate with a net-
`work content provider via a base station (130). The ap-
`pliance port (111) is configured to connect with an ap-
`
`pliance (111) such as a television. The adapter also in-
`cludes an upstream protocol stack configured to gener-
`ate Internet Protocol data. The Internet Protocol data is
`
`transmitted to a network content provider via the wire-
`less mobile communications device (120) and the base
`station (130) using an upstream communications path.
`The network content provider, in response to the Inter-
`net Protocol data transmits network content to the ap-
`pliance (111) via a downstream communications path.
`
`Wireless Device
`Cellular phone
`
`.1-
`
`Downstream
`
`170
`
`Content Service
`Head End
`
`EP1175069A1
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARlS (FR)
`
`HTC EXHIBIT 1018
`
`HTC EXHIBIT 1018
`
`Page 1 of 19
`
`

`

`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`Description
`
`Technical Field
`
`[0001] The present invention relates generally to net-
`work architectures, and more particularly to an adapter
`for interacting with broadcast networks and the Internet
`using mobile telephone networks.
`
`Background Art
`
`In thefield of consumerelectronics and access
`[0002]
`devices for muIti—media content, three types of networks
`dominate, the broadband broadcast networks, the base-
`band point-to-point Internet, and telephone networks.
`Unfortunately, consumer devices designed to access
`contentfrom one network generally do notworkwell with
`other networks, if at all.
`[0003] The most common consumer device used to
`access content of the broadcast network is the televi-
`
`sion. However, televisions do not compute, nor can one
`receive or originatetelephone calls with televisions. Re-
`cently, Web television devices (Web TV®) have been
`introduced to provide access to Internet content. Web
`TV devices are designed as special purpose stationary
`devices only good for home use. Web TV requires a ded-
`icated phone Iine, a 56Kbps modem, a 150+ MHz proc-
`essor, and about 10Mb of memory. Web TV has limited
`functionality primarily related to downloading Web con-
`tent and e-mail. Nor, does Web TV provide mobile ac-
`cess capabilities. That is,
`it is impractical for a user to
`carry a Web TV to different locations and reconfigure
`the device every time.
`[0004]
`For Internet access, the most common device
`is the personal computers or laptop. Typically, a Web
`browser such as the Netscape Navigatorlml provides a
`graphic user interface (GUI). There are a number of
`problems with this type of Internet access. Specialized
`equipment is required.
`[0005] Compared to other user appliances, such as
`televisions and telephones, computers need a lot of at-
`tention and special hardware. Computers need software
`loaded. The systems needs to be configured. Operating
`systems need frequent updates. Often, software up-
`dates also dictate hardware updates. The system needs
`to go through a lengthy start-up sequence before it is
`usable. Likewise, at the end of a session, just turning
`the power off can make the device unusable. More typ-
`ically, a shut—down procedure needs to be executed.
`There is no instant ON/O FF. During use, computers fre-
`quently "freeze" for unknown reasons. The user needs
`to make arrangementwith an ISP. A connection with the
`ISP usually requires some modern, cable, DSL, or dial-
`up telephone line. The ISP may not be available at every
`location. In sum, accessing the Internet, via a conven-
`tional computer system requires a reasonably sophisti-
`cated user.
`
`[0006]
`
`It is possible to access some broadcast televi-
`
`sion programming via the Internet, but the quality, and
`speed of delivery is poor. Generally, PC's are not con-
`figured or designed as "entertainment centers." For a
`standard PC configuration, with a system box, disk
`drives, a printer, a monitor, a mouse, a cable modem,
`and speakers, mobility is problematic. lnthecasewhere
`the equipment is portable, the quality of the video and
`audio interface suffers severely.
`[0007] More recently, wireless cellular telephones
`(cellphones) and personal digital assistants have been
`provided with Internet access capabilities. These devic-
`es provide access to messaging services, as well as In-
`ternet content. These devices have their own set of
`
`problems. They cannot be used as a network computer.
`Typically, they cannot be linked to broadcast service
`providers. And, most important, their display screens
`are of limited size, hardly suited for use as an entertain-
`ment device. The concept of curling up on a couch with
`a PDA to watch a newly released movie or listen to a
`CD does not seem compelling.
`[0008]
`Internet telephone services have also become
`available, but again the quality of the services suffers
`severely, particularly forwhat should otherwise be a nor-
`mal two-way conversation. The packet switching nature
`of the Internet is not geared to the concurrent delivery
`of two-way streamed content.
`[0009] Therefore, there is a need to provide a mobile
`network architecture that provides quality concurrent
`access to both broadcast, Internet, and telephone net-
`work content. The user interface should be simple and
`flexible with built—in security constraints.
`
`Disclosure of Invention
`
`[0010] A mobile network adapter includes a wireless
`port and an appliance port. The appliance port is con-
`figured to physically connect to a wireless mobile com-
`munications device such as a cellular telephone. The
`wireless mobile communications device is configured to
`communicate with a network content providervia a base
`station. The appliance port is configured to connect with
`an appliance such as a television. The adapter also in-
`cludes an upstream protocol stack configured to gener-
`ate Internet Protocol data. The Internet Protocol data is
`
`transmitted to a network content provider via the wire-
`less mobile communications device and the base sta-
`
`tion using an upstream communications path. The net-
`work content provider, in response to the Internet Pro-
`tocol data transmits network contentto the appliance via
`a downstream communications path.
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`[0011]
`
`is a block diagram of a mobile network ar-
`Figure 1
`chitecture according to the present invention;
`
`Page 2 of 19
`
`

`

`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`Figure 2 is a block diagram of upstream protocol
`stacks used by the architecture of Figure 1 ;
`
`Figure 3 are perspective views of docking ports
`used by the invention;
`
`Figure 4 is a diagrammatic of an alternative embod-
`iment of a docking port;
`
`Figure 5 is a block diagram of pin assignments used
`by the docking ports of Figures 3 and 4;
`
`Figure 6 is a block diagram of downstream protocol
`stacks used by the architecture of Figure 1 ;
`
`Figure 7 is a block diagram of upstream and down
`stream paths over a mobile communications net-
`work;
`
`Figure 8 is a block diagram of protocol stacks of the
`arrangement of Figure 7; and
`
`Figure 9 is a block diagram of a preferred embodi-
`ment of a user appliance in the networks of Figure 1.
`
`Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
`
`EXAM PLE 1
`
`Network Architecture Overview
`
`Figure 1 shows a network architecture 100 ac-
`[0012]
`cordingto ourinvention. Ataminimum, ourarrangement
`100 includes a user appliance 110, and a wireless mo-
`bile communication device 120 physically coupled to
`each othervia an appliance port (A—Port) 111 and a wire-
`less port (W—Port) 121 via a physical link 103.
`[0013] This combination can be used to access
`broadcast network content and Internet content using a
`mobile communications network, as described in great-
`er detail below. As an advantage, the architecture ac-
`cording to our invention is complete mobile. A user can
`simply connect a cellphone to the appliance, e.g., a tel-
`evision, and operation can proceed without the user
`having to run complicated start—up,
`log—in, or configura-
`tion procedures. Security is guaranteed, when the user
`removes the phonefrom the TV, operation is terminated,
`although the appliance can still be used in its traditional
`stand—a|one mode. Access to network content can be
`
`any place where broadcast televisions signals are re-
`ceived, and cellular phones are enabled, which includes
`most locations in developed nations.
`[0014]
`In a preferred embodiment, the consumer ap-
`pliance 110 is a television adapted as described herein.
`Alternatively, the appliance can be a radio, a CD player,
`or a household appliance such as refrigerator, stove,
`washing machine, video camera, or a mobile appliance
`such as might be installed in an automobile, truck, or
`
`boat, for example a navigation system, or a television.
`Here, of course, a mobile operation is an essential re-
`quirement.
`[0015] The appliance 100 can be controlled with a re-
`mote control device 170. The "remote" controls the ap-
`pliance via communications path 113, e.g., an infrared
`or RF channel. The remote can use legacy commands
`such as volume and channel select, and IP command
`to enable Internet access, e.g., Back, Forward, Reload,
`Home,, Search, Security, Shop, character input, etc.
`The later commands are usually sufficient to operate
`any standard Internet browser, and to receive and gen-
`erate IP content, data, or control information.
`[0016] The wireless device 120 communicates with a
`base station 130 using standard communication
`schemes (WD-BS) 131, for example, schemes such as
`'|'Ime Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Di-
`vision Multiple Access (FDMA), Code Division Multiple
`Access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multi-
`plexing (OFDM), Multi Carrier CDMA (MC—CDMA),
`AMPS, CDPD, PCS, W—CDMA, and the like. Typically,
`the wireless device 120 is a cellular telephone.
`[0017] The base station 130 communicates with an
`Internet Service Provider (ISP) 140 via Iayerthree of the
`Internet Protocol (IP) 141, e.g., IETF RFC791. The ISP
`can communicate with a broadcastcontentservice head
`
`end 150 also via the IP protocol 141. Internet traffic is
`communicated via routers and wide area networks,
`these are well known. The head end provides television
`broadcast signals 160 using terrestrial, cable, digital
`subscriber line (DSL), or satellite broadcasting tech-
`niques 161.
`[0018]
`It should be noted that with the rapidly chang-
`ing muIti—media industry, in many cases, the telephone
`network content/access, the internet network content/
`access, and the broadcast network content/access are
`just different operating division ofthe same business en-
`terprise. Thus, hereinafter when we refer to a network
`content provider, it should be understood that the con-
`tent can originate via an ISP, a telephone network oper-
`ator, or a traditional broadcaster.
`[0019] Our architecture 100 also provides for an up-
`stream path 101 from the wireless device 120 to the ISP
`140, and a downstream path 102 from the head end 150
`to the appliance 110. In the preferred embodiment, the
`upstream path carries low-bandwidth control informa-
`tion using the Internet Protocol, or alternatively IP data
`intended for other destinations. In this case, the IP data
`is content generated by the appliance under user con-
`trol, i.e., "appliance data." The downstream path carries
`high—bandwidth network content (broadcast or Internet)
`responsive to the control information.
`
`Network Operation Overview
`
`[0020] During operation, the user establishes a bi—di—
`rectional communication path with a preferred Internet
`Service Provider. In other words, the usersimply makes
`
`Page 3 of 19
`
`

`

`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`a mobile telephone call. At this point, the cellphone is
`inserted in a docking port of the appliance, see Figures
`3 and 4. From, this point on, the cellphone can be pow-
`ered via the appliance.
`[0021] The appliance 120 is normally connected to re-
`ceive networkcontent using the high speed downstream
`path 102. For example, the appliance is a television re-
`ceiving ATSC data broadcasting or direct broadcasting
`satellite (DBS) broadcast via an antenna, or cable chan-
`nels via a cable connection. The delivery network is nor-
`mally a shared delivery medium, supporting higher
`speeds than those supported by the wireless network
`130-131.
`
`[0022] The appliance and wireless device serve as
`the originating point forthe upstream path 101 . The up-
`stream path typically transmits small amounts of control
`information, e.g.,
`remote commands, Universal Re-
`source ldentifiers (URls), and Universal Resource Lo-
`cators (URLs), to the ISP 140, while the bulk of the con-
`tent, e.g., Web pages with images, video, or audio,
`is
`sent downstream over the high speed broadcast deliv-
`ery network. The pages can be in HTML, XML, or Wire-
`less Mark-up Language (WRL), As stated above, the
`TV/cellphone combination can also originate other data
`intended for any other destination having a network des-
`tination address,
`i.e., an IP address or a telephone
`number.
`
`[0023] After the cellphone has established contact
`withthe ISP, the ISP can request configuration data. The
`configuration data includes appliance specific parame-
`ters, as well as cellphone parameters for security and
`accounting purposes. At this point, the user can start
`accessing network content.
`
`Protocol Stack Cellular Upstream
`
`Figure 2 shows the protocol stacks of the up-
`[0024]
`stream path 101 according to the invention. In the ap-
`pliance 110, the protocol stacks include an application
`(browser) layer 114, a TCP/UDP layer 115,
`IP layers
`116, and the physical layers of the A-Port 111. The mo-
`bile device 120 includes the W-Port layer 121, a radio
`transceiver layer 122, and a wireless modem layer 123.
`The ISP and the Internet operate via routers 142 and
`wide area networks 143. These are standard. The ISP
`
`140 includes complementary layers 144-146, and alo-
`cal area network (LAN) layer 147. When a request from
`the appliance 110 reaches the ISP 140, a decision
`whether to use cellular downstream or broadband
`
`downstream is made based on appliance capability in-
`formation. Appliances able to receive MPEG TS such
`as ATSC, Digital Cable and DBS can take advantage of
`the high speed broadband downstream path.
`
`browser is the first application to be launched after a
`TCP session is established with the head end via the
`
`upstream IP path 101 . The browser has two basic func-
`tions. The browser provides the initial user interface for
`a user to select and navigate through various services
`and applications using the remote 170. Some services
`can reside in non-volatile memory in the appliance 110,
`as described below, other services can be downloaded
`via the broadcast network.
`
`[0026] The browser can use the Wireless Application
`Protocol (WAP) and the Wireless Markup Language
`(WML). WML is based on XML. WML enables easy nav-
`igation, using pointers, for devices that have no key-
`boards. WAP provides the opportunity to display Web
`contentthe mobile end user appliances using a specific
`WAP-Browser. The respective content can be down-
`loaded by a WAP-Servers executing at the ISP. WAP
`supports wireless services, such as SMS and GPRS, as
`well as mobile network standards, e.g., GSM, CDMA,
`UMTS). The protocol meets the requirements of the low
`bandwidth and high—latency upstream data path.
`[0027] Another function of the browser is to act as an
`interface to customize presentation and application set-
`tings according to user preferences. These settings
`should not be confused with initial network configuration
`or set—up. The architecture 100 does not require any
`configuration or set-up because the wireless device is
`authorized by a cellular network service provider. The
`provider manages the configuration, set—up, IP address
`assignment, if any, and all security/authentication/billing
`provisions. The "application" at the ISP is the server
`144, e.g., the Apache public domain H'F|'P daemon.
`
`TCPIUDP Layer
`
`[0028] The TCP/UDP layer 115 is defined in the IETF
`RFC 768 User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and the RFC
`793 Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), respectively.
`Upstream TCP or UDP data are sent via the wireless
`device through the WD-BS interface 131. Downstream
`TCP or UDP data can be sent eithervia the WD-BS in-
`
`terface or via the broadband downstream path 102. In
`the broadband downstream case, UDP data for IP mul-
`ticast and broadcast multicast are embedded in a prin-
`cipal service stream e.g., the MPEG transport stream.
`
`IP Layers
`
`[0029] The IP layers 116 are defined in the IETF RFC
`791 Internet Protocol. Note, complementary application,
`TCP/UDP, lP layers 152-154 exist in the head end 150.
`
`LAN
`
`Application Layer
`
`in the ISP and head end, the physical layers
`[0030]
`147 are connected via a LAN.
`
`[0025] The application layer 114 of the appliance can
`execute a browser 114, e.g., Netscape Navigator. The
`
`Page 4 of 19
`
`

`

`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`Docking Ports Physical Layer
`
`Figure 3 shows the physical arrangement of
`[0031]
`the docking ports 111 and 121. In one embodiment, the
`appliance 110 includes a receptacle 117 into which the
`bottom ofthe wireless device 120 can be inserted. Com-
`
`plementary sets of pins, described in greater detail be-
`low, complete the link 103.
`
`Docking Cradle and Network Adapter
`
`Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in-
`[0032]
`cluding a docking cradle 400 with a receptacle 411 for
`receiving the bottom of the wireless device. The cradle
`can be equipped with a powerconnector401, and a sig-
`nal connector 402 using for example a male RJ45 con-
`nector 403 for connecting with the appliance. The dock-
`ing cradle 400 can also include appropriate indicator
`lights 412. Of course, in this embodiment, the remote
`170 communicates 131 directly with the cradle, and not
`the appliance.
`the
`this arrangement,
`[0033] As an advantage of
`docking cradle 400 is the means that can adapt any prior
`art applianceto our invention, and only the cradle needs
`to conform to the form factor of the wireless mobile com-
`
`munications device. In otherwords, the cradle is a "net—
`work adapter." That is, the docking cradle can include
`the hardware and software components ofthe appliance
`protocol layers as shown in Figures 2,6, 8, and 9.
`[0034]
`In this embodiment the appliance can be any
`legacy appliance, and the connection to the appliance
`from the cradle can be any standard composite video,
`S-video and audio connector 403. In other words, with
`this arrangement, the mobile user only needs to trans-
`portthe cradle and a cellphoneto enable the networking
`according to our invention. Hereinafter, when we refer
`to the appliance, we mean both a standalone appliance
`as in Figure 3, and a prior art appliance adapted with
`the embodiments as shown and described herein.
`
`Docking Port Signal Pins
`
`Figure 5 shows one possible arrangement for
`[0035]
`the pins (1 -9) of the appliance and wireless device. The
`pins 1-9 include the appliance pins 501-509 and com-
`plementary pins 511-519 of the mobile device. Pins 1-2
`carry receive data signals and transmit data signals em-
`ulating, forexample, a RS-232 serial protocol. Serial line
`control is implemented using pins 3-4.The A—port puts a
`positive voltage on pin 3 to indicate the appliance is
`ready to receive data. In the same manner, the W-port
`puts a positive voltage on pin 4 called to indicate to the
`wireless device is ready to receive data.
`[0036] When the wireless device is unable to estab-
`Iish Internet connectivity, an alarm condition will be trig-
`gered on pin 5. Under normal operation the wireless de-
`vice puts a positive voltage in pin 5. A zero voltage on
`pin 5 indicates an alarm condition.
`
`Pin 7 is used for power to the wireless device
`[0037]
`to recharge its battery. Pin 8 is used for both signal
`ground and power ground. Pin 9 is used when an exten-
`sion to the antenna of the wireless device is required.
`Under some circumstances, such as physical location
`inside a building, or particular orientation of the appli-
`ance, the wireless device's own antenna might not be
`able to receive a strong enough signal. Instead oftrying
`to change the orientation of the appliance itself, an an-
`tenna extension can be wired to a terminal connector in
`
`the appliance, e.g., the back of the television. This ter-
`minal is wired to pin 9 in the docking port. In alternative
`embodiment, the link 103 can use USB or IEEE 1394
`protocols.
`
`Protocol Stack Broadband Downstream
`
`Figure 6 illustrates layers of the downstream
`[0038]
`path 102. After the ISP 140 receives the requests via
`cellular upstream, e.g., an URL from the appliance 110,
`it fulfills the request by collecting Web content corre-
`sponding to the URL, and sending the content to the ap-
`pliance via broadband downstream 102. Necessary
`modifications to the IP packet headers are madeto send
`data via the downstream broadband path 102.
`[0039] Onlythose layers that are significantly different
`from the layers of Figure 2 are described. Layer 601 is
`the MPEG Private Section as defined in ISO/IEC 13818
`
`MPEG-2 Part1. Layer 602 is the MPEG TS (Transport
`Stream) as defined in ISO/IEC 13818 MPEG-2 Part1.
`Layer 603 is the ATSC VSB (Vestigia| Sideband) as de-
`fined in ATSC A/53, ATSC Digital Television Standard.
`Layer 604, in case of a cable implementation 605 is Ca-
`ble QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) as defined
`in the Open Cable specification by CableTelevision Lab-
`oratories,
`Inc.
`IS-N—INT01-991021 OCI—N Cable Net-
`work lnterface Specification.
`
`Cellular Upstream - Cellular Downstream
`
`Figure 7 shows an arrangement 700 where the
`[0040]
`content service and delivery network 161 is unable or
`unwilling to handle the downstream channel, e.g., lega-
`cy NTSC broadcasttelevision networks. In this case, the
`wireless (cellular) network provides both the upstream
`and downstream channels 101 -1 02 forthe Internet con-
`
`tent. Figure 8 shows the protocol 800 for the arrange-
`ment of Figure 7.
`
`Television Appliance
`
`Figure 9 shows an arrangement 900 where the
`[0041]
`appliance is a television.
`In Figure 9, the dotted lines
`indicate control signals. In this case, the appliance 110
`includes a NTSC tuner 910 connected to an antenna
`
`901 and an analog audio/visual (AN) circuit 920. The
`output of the A/V circuit is connected to an audio circuit
`930 and speaker 931, and a digital video circuit (graph-
`
`Page 5 of 19
`
`

`

`EP1 175 069 A1
`
`10
`
`ics compositor/format converter) 940 and display 941.
`[0042] The tuner 910 receives an analog RF signal
`via the antenna 901 or a cable, not shown. The tuner
`selects by a filtering mechanism a single NTSC analog
`signal corresponding to a television channel. The ana-
`log A/V circuit decodes the NTSC baseband signal com-
`ingfrom the NTSCtuner. The demodulated NTSC signal
`is a composite signal defined in the SMPTE-170M
`standard comprising an audio component (Stereo, Mo-
`no, Pro—logic) 902, and a video components 903, e.g.,
`NTSC video, VBI data.
`[0043] The audio circuit processes the audio signal
`902 for output on the speaker 931 . The video circuit 940
`processes the video signal for the display 941. The in-
`terface to the display is implementation dependent, for
`example, it can be YPbPr or RGB.
`
`CPU and Applications
`
`[0044] The appliance 110 also includes a central
`processing unit and memory 950. The CPU 950 in-
`cludes aprocessor, e.g., MIPS architecture R5000 class
`250M|PS or higher, software drivers to command hard-
`ware devices such the analog NV 920, the A-Port 111,
`an ATSC Tuner/Demodulator 960, the video circuit 940.
`The CPU 950 also includes real—time operating system
`(RTOS) software, e.g., VxWorks, and application soft-
`ware such as the browser 114, a download controller,
`an AV system controller, electronic program guide
`(EPG) software, on-screen display (OSD), and home
`networking modules.
`[0045]
`Serial driversoftware, e.g., RS-232, to support
`the protocol on the A-Port and W—port resides in the CPU
`and the associated application software. The CPU con-
`troller (i.e. the chip controlling the CPU) typically sup-
`ports two RS—232—C ports. Connectors in the A-Port are
`wired to terminals in the CPU controller.
`
`ATSC Tuner/Demodulator
`
`[0046] Depending on a userselection, the ATSC tun-
`er/demodulator 960 tunes to the a corresponding chan-
`nel. A signal received via an antenna 961 is VSB—mod—
`ulated. The signal is passed to a demodulatorwhich ex-
`tract a bit stream in the MPEG TS format. A DBS Satel-
`
`lite tuner or a Digital Cable tuner, or both, can be em-
`bedded in the appliance instead of, or in addition to, the
`ATSC tuner/demodulator, providing alternative MPEG
`TS sources to the MPEG TS demultiplexer 970.
`
`MPEG TS Demux
`
`[0047] A MPEG demultiplexer 970 demultiplexes the
`M PEG TS signal to produce a program streams contain-
`ing multimedia content, e.g., audio and video 971, and
`IP data 972. A single TS can have multiple program
`streams.
`
`SD and HDTV MPEG decoder
`
`[0048] A SD and HDTV MPEG decoder, depending
`on the input signal, produces a signal (SD or HD) in a
`format suitableforthe display 941 . The audio signal 973
`is supported typically in a separate decoder able to pro-
`duce up to 5.1 independent channels, e.g. Dolby AC-3.
`
`IIF Module (1394)
`
`[0049] An l/F module 980 supports an external digital
`interface to connect devices such as cable or satellite
`
`set—top boxes to via an IEEE 1394 connector 981 . This
`moduletransport data in digital formats, such as MPEG
`for digital TV content.
`
`15
`
`Graphics Compositor / Format Conversion
`
`[0050] The compositor 940 combines input from a
`wide variety of graphic sources available. For example
`forvideo: SD, e.g., 480p, HD, e.g., 1080i , analog NT-
`SC. In case of graphic user interface or a Web browsers,
`the combinations are varied. Typical examples of appli-
`cations are picture-in-picture (PIP), Web content com-
`bined with DTV in a window, and so forth.
`[0051] As stated above, the hardware and software
`components of Figure 9 necessary for IP access, e.g.,
`the CPU, ATSC tuner, NTSC encoding, graphics com-
`positor, etc., can be located in the docking cradle 400 of
`Figure 4 to enable the mobile userto adapt prior art ap-
`pliances to our network architecture.
`
`Industrial Applicability
`
`Features and Advantages
`
`[0052] Our architecture, as described above, has a
`number of distinguishing features and advantages over
`prior art networks. Any television, or any other appli-
`ance, once equipped with the A-port and circuits as
`shown in Figure 8 can be turned into an Internet device
`when the wireless mobile device 130 is plugged into the
`appliance. Using the protocol stacks, the appliance and
`wireless communication device operate as a single unit.
`That is, the relative small cellular phone provides the
`userwith stereo and full screen high quality multi-media
`delivery, unlike prior art dedicated single use devices.
`[0053] Using the identification of the wireless device,
`i.e.,
`its telephone number, the ISP can access a user
`profile, to custom design the graphic user interface.
`Thus, if the user is mobile, for example, staying at a ho-
`tel, the graphic interface seen by the userwill befamiliar.
`Services such as e-mail, video conferencing, Internet
`browsing are easily accommodated with tailored inter-
`faces. As opposed to traditional implementations, se-
`cure information can be transferred, to and from the ap-
`pliance, from any location with the wireless device has
`access to the base station. Billing becomes trivial.
`
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`EP1175069A1
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`12
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`the upstream protocol stack to generate the In-
`ternet Protocol data in response to the Internet
`Protocol commands.
`
`The mobile network adapter wherein the appliance
`(111) is a television and the upstream protocol stack
`includes a browser, and the network content in-
`cludes Web pages with images and text to be dis-
`played on the appliance (111).
`
`The mobile network adapter of claim 3 wherein the
`upstream protocol stack further comprises:
`
`an application layer for executing the browser;
`a TCP/UDP layer;
`Internet Protocol layers; and
`a physical layer.
`
`The mobile network adapter of claim 3 wherein the
`Web browser provides a user interface configured
`according to user preferences associated with the
`wireless mobile communications device (120).
`
`The mobile network adapter of claim 1 wherein the
`appliance port (111) and the wireless port (121) in-
`clude pins for carrying receive data, transmit data,
`an appliance ready signal, a wireless mobile com-
`munications device (120) ready signal, an alarm
`signal, a power signal, a ground signal, and an an-
`tenna signal.
`
`The mobile network adapter of claim 1 further com-
`prising:
`
`a central processing unit and memory for exe-
`cuting software programs;
`a digital video circuit;
`an ATSC tuner/demodulator;
`a MPEG demultiplexer; and
`an MPEG decoder produces a digital video sig-
`nal for the digital video circuit, and where the
`digital video circuit, the ATSC tuner/demodula-
`tor, the MPEG demultiplexer, and the MPEG
`decoder are controlled by the central process-
`ing unit.
`
`[0054] Our architecture uses the two common user
`devices, the television, and the cellphone.
`If the appli-
`ance is a television, Internet access is gained by simply
`plugging the cellular phone into the docking port. As an
`additional feature, the physical connection at the dock-
`ing ports can allow the wireless device to be recharged
`while in use. This is not possible with other solution,
`such as specified in the B|ueTooth standard. Moreover,
`when separated, the appliance and wireless device can
`continue to operate independently with their traditional
`functionalities.
`
`Other Application
`
`[0055] Other applications that can use our invention
`include low cost video phone and web access, and re-
`turn channels for NTSC/ATSC signals. Our architecture
`provides personal services at home, in hotels, in cars,
`or any other locality used by a mobile user.
`[0056] Although the invention has been described by
`way of examples of preferred embodiments, it is to be
`understood that various other adaptations and modifi-
`cations may be made within the spirit and scope of the
`invention. Therefore,
`it
`is the object of the appended
`claims to cover all such variations and modifications as
`
`come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
`
`Claims
`
`1. A mobile network adapter, comprising:
`
`a wireless port (121) configured to physically
`connect to a wireless mobile communications
`
`device (120), the wireless mobile communica-
`tions device (120) configured to communicate
`with a network content provider via a base sta-
`tion (130);
`an appliance port (111) configured to connect
`with an appliance (111); and
`an upstream protocol stack configured to gen-
`erate Internet Protocol data, the Internet Proto-
`col data to be transmitted to a network content
`
`provider via the wireless mobile communica-
`tions device (120) and the base station (130)
`using an upstream communications path, and
`the network content provider, in responseto the
`Internet Protocol data to broadcast network
`
`content to the appliance (111) via a down-
`stream communications path.
`
`2. The mobile network adapter of claim 1 further com-
`prising:
`
`a remote control device (170) to communicate
`with the upstream protocol stack, the remote
`control device to transmit
`Internet Protocol
`
`commands to the upstream protocol stack, and
`
`Page 7 of 19
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