Home area network including arrangement for distributing television programming over local cable

Abstract

A television program distribution arrangement is described for use in connection with a server in a home area network, the television program distribution arrangement being configured to distribute television programming over a local video link. The television program distribution arrangement comprises a television programming information receiver module, a television programming information assembler module, and a control module. The television programming information receiver module is configured to receive television programming information from a plurality of sources. The television programming information assembler module is configured to assemble said television programming information as received by the television programming information receiver module into a unitary set of channels for transmission over the local link. The control module is configured to control the television programming information receiver module and the television programming information assembler module.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . A television program distribution arrangement for use in connection with a server in a home area network, the television program distribution arrangement being configured to distribute television programming over a local video link, the television program distribution arrangement comprising: 
 A. a television programming information receiver module configured to receive television programming information from a plurality of sources;    B. a television programming information assembler module configured to assemble said television programming information as received by the television programming information receiver module into a unitary set of channels for transmission over the local link; and    C. a control module configured to control the television programming information receiver module and the television programming information assembler module.    
     
     
         2 . A television program distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 1    in which one of said sources provides television programming information over a unitary set of channels, the television programming information assembler module being configured to remove at least some of the television programming information from at least one of the channels and substitute television programming information from another of said sources in the at least one of the channels.  
     
     
         3 . A television programming information distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 2    in which the at least one of the channels is selectable in response to channel selection information from a user.  
     
     
         4 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 2    in which one of the sources is a local programming source.  
     
     
         5 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 2    in which said one of said sources comprises a cable television programming provider.  
     
     
         6 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 2    in which said one of said sources comprises a satellite television programming provider.  
     
     
         7 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 2    in which said other of said sources comprises a pre-recorded television programming information source.  
     
     
         8 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 7    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a video cassette recorder.  
     
     
         9 . A television programming distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 7    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a digital video disk.  
     
     
         10 . A television program distribution arrangement as defined in    claim 1    further comprising a television programming information storage module, the control module being further configured to selectively enable television programming information received by said television programming information receiver module from one of said sources to be stored in the television programming information storage module, and thereafter retrieved from the television programming information storage module and provided to the television programming information assembler module for use by the television programming information receiver module in assembling the television programming information.  
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling a server in a home area network to provide television programming information over a local video link, the method comprising: 
 A. a television programming information receiving step of receiving television programming information from a plurality of sources;    B. a television programming information assembling step of assembling said television programming information as received by the television programming information receiver module into a unitary set of channels for transmission over the local link.    
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in    claim 11    in which one of said sources provides television programming information over a unitary set of channels, the television programming information assembling step including the steps of removing at least some of the television programming information from at least one of the channels and substituting television programming information from another of said sources in the at least one of the channels.  
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in    claim 12    in which the at least one of the channels is selectable in response to channel selection information from a user, the television programming information assembling step including the steps of receiving the channel selection information and using the channel selection information in assembling the television programming information.  
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in    claim 12    in which one of the sources is a local programming source.  
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in    claim 12    in which said one of said sources comprises a cable television programming provider.  
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in    claim 12    in which said one of said sources comprises a satellite television programming provider.  
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in    claim 12    in which said other of said sources comprises a pre-recorded television programming information source.  
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in    claim 17    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a video cassette recorder.  
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in    claim 17    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a digital video disk.  
     
     
         20 . A method as defined in    claim 11    including 
 A. a television program information storage step of selectively storing television programming information received by said television programming information receiver module from one of said sources in a television programming information storage module, and  
 B. a television program information retrieval step of retrieving previously-recorded television programming information from the television programming information storage module for use in assembling the television programming information during the television programming information assembling step.  
 
     
     
         21 . A computer program product for use in connection with a programmable device to provide a television program distribution arrangement for use in connection with a server in a home area network, the television program distribution arrangement being configured to distribute television programming over a local video link, the computer program product comprising a device readable medium having encoded thereon: 
 A. a television programming information receiver module configured to enable the device to receive television programming information from a plurality of sources;    B. a television programming information assembler module configured to enable the device to assemble said television programming information as received by the television programming information receiver module into a unitary set of channels for transmission over the local link; and    C. a control module configured to enable the device to control the television programming information receiver module and the television programming information assembler module.    
     
     
         22 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 21    in which one of said sources provides television programming information over a unitary set of channels, the television programming information assembler module being configured to enable the device to remove at least some of the television programming information from at least one of the channels and substitute television programming information from another of said sources in the at least one of the channels.  
     
     
         23 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 22    in which the at least one of the channels is selectable in response to channel selection information from a user.  
     
     
         24 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 22    in which one of the sources is a local programming source.  
     
     
         25 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 22    in which said one of said sources comprises a cable television programming provider.  
     
     
         26 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 22    in which said one of said sources comprises a satellite television programming provider.  
     
     
         27 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 22    in which said other of said sources comprises a pre-recorded television programming information source.  
     
     
         28 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 27    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a video cassette recorder.  
     
     
         29 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 27    in which said pre-recorded television programming information source comprises a digital video disk.  
     
     
         30 . A computer program product as defined in    claim 21    further comprising a television programming information storage module, the control module being further configured to enable the device to selectively enable television programming information received by said television programming information receiver module from one of said sources to be stored in the television programming information storage module, and thereafter retrieved from the television programming information storage module and provided to the television programming information assembler module for use by the television programming information receiver module in assembling the television programming information.