Patent · US Expired

Microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with digital communications interface for bi-directional communication with a computer remotely located

US6286063A · kind A · utility

29Cited by
39References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 1998
Grant dateSep 4, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 8, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04H2201/20
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microcontroller or microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver embedded in an external peripheral with a digital communications interface. In one embodiment, a microprocessor-controlled broadcast receiver is embedded in the housing of an external computer peripheral. The external computer peripheral is connected to a personal computer (PC) via a digital communications link such as USB (universal serial bus). Control data is relayed from the personal computer to the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral via the digital communications link. Audio signals received by the broadcast receiver in the external computer peripheral may also be relayed to the personal computer via the digital communications link or via an analog interface for recording storage, or manipulation by the personal computer. The broadcast receiver may also receive data signals in addition to audio signals (datacasting). The data or audio signals or both may be encrypted.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.