Dual Virtual Antenna for Concurrent WAN and PVR Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional personal video recorders (PVRs) with single-antenna WIFI interfaces cannot concurrently access a WAN and stream media content over a personal LAN, leading to inconvenience for users who need to disconnect from one network to access the other, potentially violating copy protection measures and incurring data usage limitations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Dual Virtual Antenna (DVA) structure using software on the client media receiver, which creates two virtual antennae from a single physical antenna, allowing simultaneous WAN and personal LAN access, and includes features to monitor and prevent copy protection violations during media streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-antenna WIFI interface is used in traditional PVRs, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to concurrently access WAN and stream over personal LAN is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single physical antenna into two virtual antennas through software-based signal separation. The virtual antenna structure allows independent signal processing for WAN and personal LAN communications, enabling concurrent network access without requiring additional physical hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual antenna layer as an intermediary between the physical antenna and the network protocols. This virtual layer manages signal routing and processing, allowing the single physical antenna to simultaneously serve dual purposes for WAN and personal LAN communications through software coordination.
2Ease of operation
If users disconnect from WAN to access personal LAN, then copy protection integrity is maintained, but user convenience and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network traffic into separate virtual channels corresponding to WAN and personal LAN. This segmentation allows independent data flow management for each network type while maintaining distinct security contexts, enabling users to access both networks simultaneously without compromising copy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements monitoring mechanisms that detect copy protection violations in real-time. When potential violations are detected, the system provides feedback to terminate unauthorized WAN access while allowing legitimate personal LAN streaming to continue uninterrupted.
3Ease of operation
If users maintain both WAN and personal LAN connections, then ease of operation is improved, but data usage and network security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network management that adjusts connection states based on real-time conditions. The system can dynamically route traffic, suspend unused connections, or prioritize certain network types based on user activity patterns, optimizing data usage while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates monitoring that detects and responds to copy protection violations. When violations are detected, the system provides feedback to terminate the offending WAN connection while preserving the personal LAN connection, thereby reducing unnecessary data usage while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices (e.g., client media receivers), methods, and program products are provided enabling personal network streaming and concurrent Wide Area Network (WAN) access. In embodiments, the method is carried-out by a client media receiver utilized with a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and a display device. The method includes the step or process of identifying a user desire to conduct a wireless PVR viewing session utilizing the receiver, while maintaining wireless access to a WAN. When identifying such a user desire, the receiver: (i) creates a personal Local Area Network (LAN) enabling wireless communication between the receiver and the PVR, and (ii) establishes Dual Virtual Antenna (DVA) parameters defining first and second virtual antennae assigned to the WAN and to the personal LAN, respectively. The second virtual antenna is then utilized to support a wireless PVR viewing session, while WAN data is concurrently routed through the first virtual antenna as needed.