Wireless Set-Top Box for Encrypted Content Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and labor associated with running cabling for cable, satellite, and terrestrial broadcast services inside homes, along with the aesthetic and safety concerns of external cabling, necessitate a more efficient method for distributing encrypted content to multiple television sets without the need for extensive wiring.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system comprising a base station set-top, content security modules, and a wireless interface apparatus that wirelessly transmits CA and CP encrypted data packet streams from a central location to hosts, eliminating the need for direct wiring and allowing decryption and decoding at the hosts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cabling is run inside walls to distribute content to multiple television sets, then content distribution reliability is improved, but installation cost and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cabling system with a wireless communication system. The base station set-top box transmits encrypted content wirelessly to portable receivers, eliminating the need for physical cabling through walls and floors. This substitution maintains content distribution functionality while removing installation complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary medium between the base station set-top box and portable receivers. Instead of direct physical connections via cables, encrypted content is transmitted through wireless signals, enabling content distribution without invasive installation while maintaining security through encryption.
2Ease of manufacture
If cabling is run on the outside of walls to reduce installation cost, then installation cost decreases, but aesthetic quality and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for visible external cabling by replacing the mechanical cable transmission system with wireless communication. The base station transmits content wirelessly to portable receivers, removing all physical cables from view and eliminating aesthetic and safety concerns associated with exposed wiring.
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive cabling is installed to reach multiple rooms, then content distribution coverage is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex physical cabling infrastructure with a wireless transmission system. The base station set-top box communicates with multiple portable receivers through wireless signals, enabling content distribution to multiple rooms without any physical cables. This eliminates routing complexity through walls, ceilings, and floors while maintaining full coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic mobility to the content reception system. Portable receivers can be moved freely to different locations and rooms without requiring fixed cabling installations. This dynamic approach provides flexible content distribution coverage while eliminating the static complexity of extensive cabling networks.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of communicating content over a wireless communication link between a base station set-top (BSS) and one or more hosts, where each of the one or more hosts have an interface protocol substantially complying with at least a subset of a copy protection standard, an encrypted signal is at least one of received and stored in the BSS, and the encrypted signal is turned into an encrypted data packet stream. The BSS wirelessly transmits the data packet stream to one or more wireless interface apparatuses (WIAs) which are interfaced with at least one host through the interface protocol. In addition, the WIA forwards the encrypted data packet stream to the one or more hosts through implementation of the interface protocol.