US6005861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Home multimedia network architecture
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Filing: 1999-03-03
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2019-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A home network architecture has an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units perform the necessary interfacing between the external and internal networks, and make the entertainment services available to all terminals connected to the internal network. A plurality of set-top electronics that do not have network interface units connect to the internal network and prepare the information in the digital data stream for display, by a television, for example.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Humpleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/10; H04L65/102; H04L65/1023; H04L65/1026; H04L65/1033; H04L65/1036; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42607; H04N21/43; H04N21/4302; H04N21/436; H04N21/43615; H04N21/4363; H04N21/43632; H04L65/1066; H04L65/1101; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; at least one set top box separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the set top box enabling a user to select the one of the plurality of external networks for communication; and a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the set top box and the network interface unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; at least one set top box separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the set top box enabling a user to select the one of the plurality of external networks for communication; and a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the set top box and the network interface unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, a plurality of network interface units within the structure, each one of the plurality of network interface units having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; at least one set top box separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the set top box enabling a user to select from the plurality of external networks for communication; a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the set top box and at least two of the plurality of network interface units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, a plurality of network interface units within the structure, each one of the plurality of network interface units having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; at least one set top box separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the set top box enabling a user to select from the plurality of external networks for communication; a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the set top box and at least two of the plurality of network interface units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The architecture of claim 2, wherein the internal digital network is an Ethernet network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; a plurality of set top boxes separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, each of the plurality of set top boxes enabling a user to select from the plurality of external networks for communication; a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between at least two of the plurality of set top boxes and the network interface unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure, at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit having a means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; a plurality of set top boxes separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, each of the plurality of set top boxes enabling a user to select from the plurality of external networks for communication; a computer for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between at least two of the plurality of set top boxes and the network interface unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The architecture of claim 3, wherein a plurality of processing devices are coupled to the Ethernet network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The architecture of claim 5, wherein a plurality of peripheral devices are coupled to the Ethernet network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The architecture of claim 6, wherein the Ethernet network is 10baseT Ethernet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The architecture of claim 6, wherein the Ethernet network is 100baseT Ethernet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The architecture of claim 1, wherein the internal digital network has a hub coupled to the external network port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The architecture of claim 1, further comprising a coaxial cabling within the structure and coupled to coaxial cabling external to the structure that carries audiovisual information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure; at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit including means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; an electronics module separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the module enabling a user to select one of the network interface units for communication with an external network coupled thereto; and a controller for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the electronics module and the network interface unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure comprising: a plurality of external networks located external of the structure; an internal digital network within the structure; at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit including means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; an electronics module separate from and coupled to the internal digital network, the module enabling a user to select one of the network interface units for communication with an external network coupled thereto; and a controller for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the electronics module and the network interface unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure, the multimedia network architecture for communication with a plurality of external networks located external of the structure, the multimedia network architecture comprising: an internal digital network within the structure; at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit including means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; an electronics module separate from and coupled to each of the internal digital network and network interface unit, the module enabling a user to select one of the network interface units for communication with an external network coupled thereto; and a controller for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the electronics module and the network interface unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
127 words
A multimedia network architecture for a structure, the multimedia network architecture for communication with a plurality of external networks located external of the structure, the multimedia network architecture comprising: an internal digital network within the structure; at least one network interface unit within the structure, the network interface unit including means for communicating between one of the plurality of external networks and the internal digital network; an electronics module separate from and coupled to each of the internal digital network and network interface unit, the module enabling a user to select one of the network interface units for communication with an external network coupled thereto; and a controller for controlling two-way digital communication over the internal digital network between the electronics module and the network interface unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The multimedia network architecture of either claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the electronics module enables the user to select a desired portion of a data stream transmitted along a selected one of the plurality of external networks.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |