Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02748032 2014-08-29
DATA DISTRIBUTION UNIT FOR
VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a data
distribution unit for a vehicle entertainment system and,
in particular, to a vehicle and distribution unit that
provides a wireless connection to wireless enabled devices
in a vehicle.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As society becomes more mobile and therefore spends a
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greater amount of time traveling and away from home, demand
rises for electronic devices outside the home environment.
For example, media units including video screens have been
mounted in the headrests of vehicles, facilitating video
entertainment on the road. These media units can play video
and audio from different media sources located in different
portions of the vehicle. Further, many electronic devices
used outside the home environment have wireless capability,
allowing a user to access the Internet if connected to a
wireless network, such as, for example, a Wi-Firm network.
Conventional vehicle entertainment systems play the
CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes brought into the vehicle by
passengers. However, such systems are limited in their
ability to provide a dynamic selection of media choices.
Various media, including television, radio and media on the
Internet, are available via wireless communications, such
as cellular phone networks to cellular phones and personal
digital assistants (PDAs). Such
media may also be
transmitted via other wireless networks over different
radio frequencies, including frequencies in the ultra high
frequency (UHF) range.
A hotspot is a location where Internet access is
available for wireless enabled devices via a wireless local
area network. A router connected to a link to an Internet
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service provider is used to wirelessly distribute Internet
protocol (IP) addresses to the wirelessly enabled devices.
Hotspots are generally made available by retail or public
establishments for their customers.
Therefore, a need exists for a data distribution unit
for a vehicle entertainment system which can wirelessly
receive media and distribute that media to users of the
vehicle, as well as provide a wireless connection to
wireless enabled devices in the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
a data distribution unit for a vehicle includes a wireless
receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a
cellular network, a signal processor configured to decode
the coded data into video data and audio data, and a
wireless transmitter configured to transmit the video data
wirelessly to a display and transmit the audio data
wirelessly to a speaker.
In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless receiver is
configured to receive the coded data wirelessly via a Third
Generation (3G) cellular network or a Fourth Generation
(4G) cellular network.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless receiver is
configured to receive the coded data wirelessly via an
Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA-1-) cellular network,
a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)
cellular network, or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular
network.
In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless transmitter
is configured to transmit the video data and the audio data
wirelessly using an 802.11 transmission standard.
In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless transmitter
is configured to create a hotspot by assigning an Internet
Protocol (IP) address to at least one wireless enabled
device via an 802.11 transmission standard.
In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one wireless
enabled device comprises one of a laptop, an mp3 player, a
gaming system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a
cellular phone.
In an exemplary embodiment, the display and the
speaker are part of a portable media player.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further includes a browser configured to navigate an
Internet website on the display.
In an exemplary embodiment, the display is mounted to
a headrest of a seat in the vehicle, and the data
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distribution unit is mounted on a surface within the
vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further comprises a video camera configured to record local
video data, and a microphone configured to record local
audio data.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
may be configured to transmit the local audio and video
data to a remote device wirelessly via the cellular
network, receive remote audio and video data from the
remote device wirelessly via the cellular network, and
transmit the remote audio data to the speaker and the
remote video data to the display wirelessly via an 802.11
transmission standard.
In an exemplary embodiment, the display, the video
camera, and the microphone are mounted to a headrest of a
seat in the vehicle, and the, data distribution unit is
mounted on a surface within the vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the display and the video
camera are mounted in a dashboard of the vehicle, and the
microphone and the speaker are mounted in an overhead of
the vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further includes a plurality of displays, a plurality of
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video cameras, and a plurality of microphones. A
first
display, a first video camera and a first microphone are
mounted in a dashboard of the vehicle, and a second
display, a second video camera and a second microphone are
mounted in a headrest of a seat in the vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment, functions of the first
display, the first video camera and the first microphone
are controllable by a first controller, and functions of
the second display, the second video camera, and the second
microphone are controllable by a second controller.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further includes a storage device.
In an exemplary embodiment, local data is stored in
the storage device, and the local data is transmitted
wirelessly to the display, the speaker, and at least one
wireless enabled device via the wireless transmitter using
an 802.11 transmission standard.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further includes a data bus, and a selection multiplexer
connected to the wireless receiver and an additional media
source. The
selection multiplexer is configured to
multiplex one of data corresponding to the wireless
receiver or data corresponding to the additional media
source to the data bus.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless transmitter
is configured to wirelessly transmit the data multiplexed
to the data bus to at least one of the display, the
speaker, or a wireless enabled device via an 802.11
transmission standard.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
further includes an additional wireless transmitter. The
wireless transmitter is configured to create a first
hotspot having a first access level by assigning an
Internet Protocol (IF) address to a first wireless enabled
device via an 802.11 transmission standard, and the
additional wireless transmitter is configured to create a
second hotspot having a second access level, different from
the first access level, by assigning an IF address to a
second wireless enabled device via the 802.11 transmission
standard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features of the present invention
will become more readily apparent by describing in detail
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data distribution
unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
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FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing connections to
the data distribution unit in a vehicle, according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGs. 3a, 3b, and 3c illustrate a data distribution
unit, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention now
will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings. This invention, may however, be
embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Embodiments of the invention relate to a data
distribution unit for a vehicle entertainment system. For
example, the entertainment system includes the data
distribution unit and at least one display screen mounted
in a vehicle, such as an automobile, minivan or sport
utility vehicle (SUV). The
display screen may be
electrically connected to the data distribution unit for
receipt of multimedia content, such as, for example, video,
audio and text.
Alternatively, the display screen may
communicate with the data distribution unit wirelessly.
The data distribution unit may further provide a wireless
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connection to wireless enabled devices in and around the
vehicle.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a data distribution
unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
and
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing connections to
the data distribution unit in a vehicle, according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1,
the data distribution unit 100
includes a wireless receiver 114, which receives multimedia
data, such as, for example, video, audio, metadata, and
text in, for example, JPEG or MPEG formats.
Formatting
may include compression of the data using, for example,
JPEG, MPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264 and AAC-F procedures.
Wireless capability may be provided by, for example, a
wireless card, which fits into a standard PCMCIA (Personal
Computer Memory Card International Association) slot.
The data may be transmitted by any known wireless
network, such as satellite or a cellular network, and is
preferably transmitted via a wireless network capable of
transmitting large volumes of high quality multimedia data
to a large number of users, such as, for example, the FLO
(forward link only) network provided by QUALCOW, Inc. For
example, the data distribution unit 100 is similar in
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function to a cellular mobile device that is capable of
receiving and storing multimedia content, such as, for
example, a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant
(FDA). In an
embodiment, the data distribution unit 100
receives multimedia content, including, for example, video
programs, via a wireless network. A
user of the data
distribution unit 100 may be a subscriber to such a system
and receive multimedia data in accordance with the terms of
the user's subscription.
In different embodiments, a data distribution unit 100
can receive and store data transmitted via various spread
spectrum modulation techniques, including, but not limited
to, frequency hopping and direct sequence modulation. The
varying frequencies utilized by spread spectrum
communication techniques result in a high bandwidth for
transmitting data to the data distribution unit 100.
The data distribution unit 100 may receive signals
transmitted over any frequency in the radio spectrum. In
an embodiment of the present invention, the data
distribution unit 100 receives signals transmitted via a
dedicated spectrum utilizing high power transmission (e.g.,
50 kW ERP). For instance, the data distribution unit 100
may receive signals transmitted via frequencies in the
upper UHF frequency bands, for example, frequencies ranging
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from 300 MHz to 3 GHz. Upper UHF frequency bands include
various channels that the data distribution unit 100 can
receive signals from, including, but not limited to, the
frequency band previously allocated to UHF TV channel 55 in
the United States (716 MHz - 722 MHz).
In an embodiment of the present invention, signals
received by the data distribution unit 100 are modulated
using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).
OFDM is a form of multi-carrier modulation wherein
different data streams are modulated onto multiple,
parallel sub-carriers on various frequencies within a
signal. To obtain a high bandwidth, the sub-carriers are
spaced closely together and are orthogonal to one another,
resulting in no overlapping or interfering between the sub-
carriers. Guard
intervals may further be implemented to
prevent interference.
Upon receiving the OFDM signals,
signal processing/conversion facilities 110 located at the
data distribution unit 100 demodulate the signals. Guard
intervals, if present, are identified, and the multiple
, 20 data streams of the sub-carriers are demultiplexed. The
signal processing/conversion facilities 110 decompress and
decode the signals, and the data distribution unit 100
distributes the data to the display device 130 and/or other
devices (e.g., speakers, wireless enabled devices).
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Selected sub-carriers may be demodulated individually,
mitigating the effects of interference present with respect
to one sub-carrier when demodulating other sub-carriers.
Sub-carriers may also be demodulated simultaneously. In
another embodiment of the present invention, signals may be
transmitted to the data distribution unit 100 using single-
carrier modulation techniques.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the data
distribution unit 100 receives and stores multimedia data
transmitted over the FLO network. The FLO
network
multicasts a high volume of multimedia data to a large
number of devices in a spectrally efficient manner, and is
deployed by the MediaFLOTM media distribution system.
Currently, the Med1aFLOTM media distribution system utilizes
the lower frequency band previously allocated to UHF TV
channel 55 in the United States (716 MHz - 722 MHz).
Multimedia data may comprise real-time and non-real-time
content, and may be provided by national and local content
providers. The
multimedia data is reformatted into FLO
packet streams, which are sent to FLO transmitters. The FLO
packet ,streams are converted to FLO signals, which are
modulated using hierarchical modulation techniques (e.g.,
OFDM), and the FLO signals are simultaneously transmitted by
the FLO transmitters over a single frequency channel to the
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data distribution unit 100. The FLO transmitters operate at
an effective radiated power (ERP) as high as 50 kW. The
utilization of a single frequency network allows for the
coexistence of local and wide area coverage within a single
RF channel. Multimedia content that is of common interest
to subscribers in a wide area network is carried by the
local area signals, eliminating the need for complex
handoffs upon the data distribution unit 100 moving between
different coverage areas. The data distribution unit 100
may utilize a Third Generation (3G) cellular network such
as, for example, an Evolved High-Speed Packet Access
(HSPA-1-) network, or a Fourth Generation (4G) cellular
network such as, for example, a Worldwide Interoperability
for Microwave Access (WiMAX) or Long Term Evolution (LTE)
network with the MediaFLOTm media distribution system to
deliver content, provide interactivity to the user, and
facilitate user authorization to the service.
The received multimedia data may be delivered in the
form of real-time streaming or stored in a storage device
116 of the data distribution unit 100 for later viewing.
The storage device 116 can include, for example, flash
memory, a memory card that fits into a PCMCIA slot, a hard
drive, a digital video recorder, or any other available
storage device. The multimedia data stored in the storage
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device 116 can be retrieved by a user at any time for
playing, for example, on a display, through a stereo system
of the vehicle, or on a wireless enabled device. Selection
of programming to be played can be made via a wired
controller and a wireless remote controller. The
wired
controller and the wireless remote controller, via a
wireless remote receiver 115, are connected to a function
control unit 117 in the data distribution unit 100. The
function control unit 117 allows a user to control the
functions of the data distribution unit 100. Such
functions are those typical of a television and
entertainment system, and may include, but are not limited
to, channel selection, volume control, playback control,
and recording control. The wired controller and wireless
remote controller may further control functions relating to
web/Internet services. The
wireless remote receiver 115
receives signals from the wireless remote controller via,
for example, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR),
BLUETOOTH, or 802.11 (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission
standards. Controls
may further be included on the data
distribution unit 100.
The received data may require processing prior to
being viewed or heard by a user.
Accordingly, the data
distribution unit 100 is equipped with signal
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processing/conversion facilities (e.g., a signal processor)
110 for performing signal processing and/or signal
conversion. The
signal processing/conversion facilities
110 include components, such as
demodulators,
demultiplexers and decoders to reformat the transmitted
audio and video data for display and listening. Such
reformatting may include decompression of compressed audio
and video data.
Demodulators in the signal
processing/conversion facilities 110 support, but are not
limited to, demodulating signals modulated using Binary
Phase-Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase-Shift Keying
(QPSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and layered
modulation techniques.
The signal processing/conversion facilities 110 may
perform such processing/conversion prior to the signals
being provided to the display device 130 or any other
device (e.g., speakers, wireless enabled devices). For
example, the signal processing/conversion facilities 110
may decode coded data received by the wireless receiver
114.
Alternatively, the display device 130 or stereo
system can include such signal processing/conversion
facilities 110.
The signal processing/conversion facilities 110 may
include, but are not limited to, Digital Signal Processors
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(DSPs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), hard-wired
digital logic, and facilities for
performing
encoding/decoding,
encrypting/decrypting,
compressing/decompressing, analog-to-digital conversion
(ADC), digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), and error
correction. The
signal processing/conversion facilities
110 may further perform Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) and
Inverse Fast Fourier Transforms (IFFT) on received data
streams. For
example, the signal processing/conversion
facilities 110 may implement a FFT to separate multiple
data streams carried on the sub-carriers of a received OFDM
signal. Such
error correction may include, but is not
limited to, Cyclic Redundancy Checking (CRC), Error
Correction Code or Error Checking and Correcting (ECC),
checksum, and so forth.
In many cases, the facilities described above may be
implemented by one or more codecs. In
other cases,
additional and/or other circuitry may be required.
It is to be appreciated that the signal
processing/conversion facilities 110 described above with
respect to the console may be located separate from or as
part of the wireless receiver 114. It is
to be further
appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the related art
will contemplate these and various other facilities for
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performing signal processing and/or signal conversion.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
the data distribution unit 100 includes a wireless
transmitter 118 connected to the data bus 125.
The
wireless transmitter 118 provides a wireless local area
network to the wireless enabled devices in and around the
vehicle, and can be used in conjunction with the wireless
receiver 114 to provide an Internet connection to the
wireless enabled devices.
For example, the wireless receiver 114 may establish
an Internet connection using cellular technology such as,
for example, a 3G or 4G cellular network. The 3G cellular
network may include, for example, an HSPA+ network, and the
4G cellular network may include, for example, a WiMAX or
LTE network.
The Internet connection established by the
wireless receiver 114 is shared with the wireless
transmitter 118, which assigns an Internet Protocol (IP)
address to each of the wireless enabled devices.
The IP
addresses may be assigned to the wireless enabled devices
using, for example, an 802.11 transmission standard (e.g.,
802.11 a/b/g/n).
The assignment of IP addresses to the
wireless enabled devices by the wireless transmitter 118 -
which transmits data between the wireless receiver 114 and
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the wireless enabled devices - allows the data distribution
unit 100 to function as a hotspot by creating an Internet-
enabled wireless local area network (e.g., a Wi-Fim
network) in and around the vehicle.
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
100 may include additional wireless transmitters. The
additional wireless transmitters operate in a similar
manner to the wireless transmitter 118, as described above.
Each additional wireless transmitter may provide a separate
wireless local area network. The
utilization of separate
wireless local area networks allows for a greater coverage
area of the hotspot. For example, larger vehicles such as,
for example, buses, trains and airplanes may implement
additional wireless transmitters to expand the coverage
area of a hotspot. Providing separate wireless local area
networks also results in the availability of additional
bandwidth which can be used to provide Internet access to a
large number of wireless enabled devices.
Further,
separate wireless local area networks may be utilized to
offer connections of varying security/access levels for
different groups of users.
A wireless enabled device, including, but not limited
to, a laptop, mp3 player, gaming system, PDA, or cellular
phone (e.g., smartphone), can connect to the wireless local
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area network via the wireless transmitter 118. Once
connected to the wireless local area network, the wireless
enabled device can connect to the Internet via the wireless
network provided by the wireless receiver 114. The
wireless network may be established via a satellite or
cellular network such as, for example, a 3G network or a 4G
network. The 3G network may include, for example, an HSPAA-
network, and the 4G network may include, for example, a
WiMAX or LTE network. In an exemplary embodiment, the data
distribution unit 100 may further include a Universal
Serial Bus (USE) connection or an Ethernet connection,
allowing a wired device to establish a wired connection
with the data distribution unit 100.
In addition to providing an Internet connection to
wireless enabled devices, the wireless transmitter 118 may
further provide wireless enabled devices with access to the
multimedia data received by and stored in the data
distribution unit 100. For example, once connected to the
wireless local area network, wireless enabled devices may
access the multimedia data received by the data
distribution unit's 100 wireless receiver 114, as well as
the multimedia data stored in the data distribution unit's
100 storage device 116. This multimedia data may include
both real-time and non-real-time content. Wireless enabled
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devices connected to the data distribution unit 100 via the
wireless transmitter 118 may further have access to
multimedia data provided to the data distribution unit 100
by an additional media source 111 or any number of
additional media sources.
Connected wireless enabled
devices may access multimedia data stored in the storage
device 116 of the data distribution unit 100 while the
wireless enabled devices are connected to the Internet or
while the wireless enabled devices are not connected to the
Internet.
Connected wireless enabled devices may also
transmit and receive data to and from each other while
connected to the wireless local area network.
The wireless local area network provided by the
wireless transmitter 118 may utilize an 802.11 transmission
standard (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n). The wireless transmitter
118 may also utilize various security techniques to provide
a secure wireless local area network. For
example, the
wireless local area network may implement Wired Equivalent
Privacy (WEP) security, Wi-Find Protected Access (WPA, WPA2)
security, MAC address filtering, port filtering, and the
ability to disable Service Set Identifier (SSID)
broadcasting. These security settings can be accessed by a
user via a user interface, which may be Accessible via the
display 130 and the wired or wireless remote controller, a
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wired device in communication with the wireless transmitter
118 via a wired connection (e.g., USB, Ethernet), or a
wireless enabled device connected to the wireless local
area network via the wireless transmitter 118.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a
video camera and/or a microphone can be connected to the
data bus 125 of the data distribution unit 100, as shown in
FIG. 1. In another exemplary embodiment, the video camera
and/or microphone may be connected to the data distribution
unit 100 wirelessly via the wireless transmitter 118 using,
for example, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR),
BLUETOOTH, or 802.11 (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission
standards. The video camera and microphone can be utilized
with a speaker(s), the wireless transmitter 118 and the
wireless receiver 114 under control of a central processing
unit (CPU) 112 and the signal processing/conversion
facilities 110, and when connected to the Internet, may
provide Voice over IP (VOIP) and videoconferencing
functionality. The speaker(s) may be connected to the data
bus 125 of the data distribution unit 100, or the
speaker(s) may be wirelessly connected to the data
distribution unit 100 via the wireless transmitter 118
using, for example, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR),
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BLUETOOTH, or 802.11 (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission
standards.
The video camera, microphone and/or speaker(s) may be
positioned together or separately, and can be positioned in
any number of locations in a vehicle. For
example, the
video camera, microphone, and/or speaker may be coupled to
the display 130 and mounted in a seat, headrest, or
overhead of a vehicle, located remote from the display 130,
mounted separately in a seat, dashboard or center console,
or in any other convenient location of the vehicle. in
addition to videoconferencing, the video camera and
microphone may be used to record and store video data in
the storage device 116.
The wired controller or the wireless remote controller
may be used to control functions of the video camera,
microphone, display 130 and/or speaker(s). For
example,
the wired controller or the wireless remote controller can
be used to enter and exit VOIP or videoconferencing mode,
enable the video camera, microphone, display 130, and/or
speaker(s), control the volume of the speaker(s), disable
the video camera, microphone, display 130 and/or
speaker(s), or change recording options of the video camera
and/or microphone.
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=
In an exemplary embodiment, the data distribution unit
100 may communicate with a plurality of video cameras,
microphones, displays 130 and/or speakers, and functions of
each video camera, microphone, display 130 and/or speaker
may be controlled by a separate wired controller or
wireless remote controller. The
video cameras,
microphones, displays 130 and/or speakers may further be
controlled by the wireless enabled devices connected to the
wireless local area network via the wireless transceiver
118 using, for example, software installed on the wireless
enabled devices.
The data distribution unit 100 also includes a CPU
112. The
CPU 112 may be used to control and/or interact
with any of the elements associated with the unit 100. The
elements shown in FIG. I may be connected by one or more
buses 125.
The display 130 includes a screen for displaying
video. The screen is preferably an LCD type display, but
may be another type of display, such as, for example, an
organic LED or electro-luminescent display. The
display
130 may include speakers for outputting audio.
Alternatively, speakers may be separately provided as part
of the data distribution unit 100, or an electrical or
wireless connection can be made to speakers positioned
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=
remote from the unit 100. Similarly, the display 130 may
be part of the unit 100 or positioned remote from the unit
100, as shown in FIG. 2.
The data distribution unit 100 may be positioned in
any number of locations in a vehicle. For example, a unit
100 may be positioned overhead in a vehicle and can be
coupled to a flip-down display 130. The unit 100 may also
be mounted to a seat, positioned in the dashboard, under a
seat, in a trunk or rear portion, or in a center console,
or in any other convenient location of the vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 2, a headrest 10 includes a display
130 having a screen for displaying video. The display 130
is connected to the data bus 125 to receive the multimedia
signals from the unit 100. The data bus 125 is preferably
capable of high bandwidth signal communication, and can be
implemented in the form of an optical fiber or copper wire.
The data bus 125 carries information such as, for example,
video and left and right audio outputs.
A transmit circuit may be disposed at the distal end
of the data bus 125, and a receive circuit disposed
proximal to the display, to process the audio/video signals
for proper transmission or reception of the signals and to
facilitate play of the audio/video program at the display.
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=
In an embodiment wherein optical fiber is used as the
data bus 125, the transmit and receive circuits perform an
optical communication protocol, including electrical to
optical conversions, to effect signal communication. An
example of an optical communication protocol is the Media
Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) protocol.
An optical communication protocol, such as MOST,
enables efficient transport of streaming multimedia
information. Devices can communicate with each other using
a high-speed connection over, for example, plastic optical
fiber (POF). For example, audio and video programming can
he sent around a network for simultaneous playback at
several locations in a vehicle. Dynamic equalization and
active noise cancellation on all audio signals flowing
around the vehicle is possible because digital data is
available to all devices on a network. The optical fiber
medium, such as, for example, POF, provides low
infrastructure costs while making data impervious to
electromagnetic disturbances.
An optical protocol, such as the MOST protocol,
defines software interfaces to enable applications running
on different devices to communicate and exchange
information, and defines a transport mechanism that sets up
a link for streaming data between devices. The protocol
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=
also defines the hardware interface needed to communicate
over optical fiber.
In an embodiment where copper wire is used as the data
bus 125, the transmit and receive circuits perform the
necessary multiplexing and data conversion known to one of
ordinary skill in the art to effect communication of the
programs.
As shown in FIG. 2, the displays 130 are connected to
the data bus 125 by extension data bus lines 140, and are
positioned remote from the unit 100, such as in the
headrest 10.
Alternatively, the displays 130 may be
connected to the data bus 125 wirelessly using, for
example, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), BLUETOOTH, or
802.11 (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission standards. The
remotely positioned display(s) may also be positioned in
another part of the vehicle (e.g., overhead, in a center
console, in the dashboard). In
the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2, the unit 100 may be positioned in any convenient
location in the vehicle, such as overhead, under a seat, in
a center console, in a dashboard, in a trunk, etc.
The data distribution unit 100 may also include an
additional media source 111 connected to the data bus 125
via a selection multiplexer 113 for feeding programming to
the displays and the wireless enabled devices. For
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example, the additional media source 111 may be a DVD
player, a CD-ROM player, a video game player, a
videocassette player, a television tuner, a radio tuner, an
MP3 player, a digital video recorder (DVR), and/or a device
for playing media supplied from a portable storage device
(e.g., a portable hard drive, memory cards, flash memory
sticks, key drives, thumb drives). The
selection
multiplexer 113 is further connected to the wireless
receiver 114, allowing the user to choose between
displaying media received via the wireless receiver 114 or
media provided by the additional media source 111. Such a
selection may be made by the user via the wired and
wireless remote controller, or via wireless enabled devices
connected to the wireless local area network via the
wireless transmitter 118. The media selected by the user
is multiplexed to the data bus 125 by the selection
multiplexer 113.
Audio signals received by the data distribution unit
100 may be sent to displays 130, to a speaker(s) and to the
wireless transmitter 118 via the data bus 125. The
wireless transmitter 118, using, for example, radio
frequency (RI?), infrared (IR), BLUETOOTH, or 802.11 (e.g.,
802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission standards, can transmit audio
to, for example, receivers connected to a vehicle radio,
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=
wireless headphones, a display having a speaker(s), or
wireless enabled devices connected to the wireless local
area network.
In addition to the data bus extension lines 140, wires
for ground and power 141 (connected to, for example, a
vehicle power supply) are connected from the displays 130
to the unit 100.
Further, as an alternative to a single
data bus carrying audio and video, multiple buses, such as
a video and an audio bus, may be used.
The data bus extension line 140 (e.g., optical fiber
or copper wire) is passed through a headrest support 15
routing the data bus extension line 140 from the headrest
to elsewhere in the vehicle. Upon routing to, for example,
the bottom of a seat, the line 140 can be connected to the
data distribution unit 100. Connection to the unit 100 may
be supplied by any appropriate connectors capable of
carrying high bandwidth, such as, for example, via a
universal serial bus (USE) type connection 173.
Referring to FIG. 2, displays 130 in multiple
headrests of a vehicle (e:g., in multiple rows of seating)
can be linked via lines 140 connected to the data
distribution unit 100. Like
the data bus 125, the
extension lines 140 can carry multiple audio and video
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signals, and use, for example, optical or copper wire
protocols capable of carrying high bandwidth.
Depending on selections made by each user on each
display 130, the same or different programs can be
simultaneously viewed on each of the displays 130 and each
wireless enabled device connected to the wireless local
area network.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a
centralized power relay 174 located in the data
distribution unit 100 supplies power to the unit 100 and
each of the displays 130 via respective power lines 141
connected to the power relay 174. The power relay 174 is
connected to a main power supply 176, such as a vehicle
power source.
Connections to the relay 174 and to a power supply of
a vehicle and ground may be supplied via
connectors/adaptors known to those of skill in the art.
The power and ground wires can be run through the same
headrest post 15 as or a different headrest post 15A from
the lines 140.
The multimedia content available via the data
distribution unit 100 includes, for example, video
programs, such as movies, television programs, newscasts,
and webcasts, audio programs, and navigation information.
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In addition, a user can access other data or mediums
currently available via wireless networks, including
cellular networks and the FLO network, such as, for
example, web/Internet services, including e-mail and
browsing, telephone service, and text services, such as
news, sports, stocks, weather and traffic information.
Delivery of programming can be in the form of real-time
streaming media or delayed via a background delivery
service, wherein data is downloaded and stored for later
viewing. The multimedia content may be accessed via the
display device 130 or via wireless enabled devices
connected to the data distribution unit 100 via the
wireless local area network provided by the wireless
transmitter 118. The
data distribution unit 100 may
include a browser that allows a user to navigate Internet
websites via the display 130.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the data
distribution unit 100 can be permanently mounted and wired
to displays in a vehicle.
Alternatively, the data
distribution unit 100 can be a portable unit that can be
moved between vehicles. The
portable unit, for example,
mounts and electrically connects to a docking station in a
vehicle, the docking station being appropriately wired to
displays and other components, such as speakers and a power
CA 02748032 2011-08-05
source of the vehicle. A portable unit may be a stand-
alone unit, including a display, a video camera, a
microphone, and/or a speaker(s), which mounts to a docking
station in a vehicle, for example, located overhead in a
vehicle.
Alternatively, the docking station may be
located, for example, in the back of a seat, in a headrest
of a seat, in a dashboard or in a center console of a
vehicle. A
stand-alone unit can include a battery
attachment so as to operate outside of the vehicle.
FIG. 3a, 3b, and 3c illustrate a data distribution
unit 300, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 3a, the unit 300
includes a receiver unit 320 and a docking station 330.
The receiver unit 320 receives wireless media signals from
an external source 310, such as, for example, data from a
cellular network (e.g., a 3G or 4G network) or FLO signals
from the FLO network. FIG. 3b illustrates an embodiment of
the receiver unit 320 which has the same general structure
and performs the same receiving and decoding functions as
the unit 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, and differs in that it
does not include a display. The wireless receiver 114 of
the receiver unit 320 additionally includes a buffer 324
for buffering streaming data. The
buffer 324 temporarily
stores raw unprocessed signals received via the external
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source 310. For example, the buffer 324 can be used to
prevent loss of data which may occur if the signal
processing of a current media signal has not completed
before a new media signal is received by the wireless
receiver 114. The wireless receiver 114 and the additional
media source 111 are connected to the selection multiplexer
113, and the selection multiplexer 113, the storage device
116, the CPU 112, the signal processing/conversion
facilities 110, and the wireless transmitter 118 are
attached to a bus controller 326, which manages the usage
of the data bus 125 by the respective units, thereby
preventing data collisions. The video camera, microphone,
and/or speaker(s) may be attached to the bus controller 326
or wirelessly connected to the receiver unit 320 via the
lb wireless transmitter 118. The receiver unit 320 removably
docks to the docking station 330. Although the receiver
unit 320 and docking station 330 are illustrated as having
respectively, 2 male and 2 female connectors, this is
merely to illustrate docking. The receiver unit 320 may be
connected to the docking station 330 in a variety of
methods known to those skilled in the art. Once the
receiver unit 320 processes the incoming media signals, it
passes the processed media signals to the docking station
330 for distribution of video signals to one or more
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displays 340 or connected wireless enabled devices in and
around the vehicle and audio signals to one or more sound
systems or connected wireless enabled devices in and around
the vehicle. Although FIG. 3a illustrates one display, the
present invention is not limited thereto, as any number of
displays can be supported. The docking station 330 may be
wired directly to a sound system of the vehicle.
FIG. 3c illustrates an embodiment of the docking
station which may include a centralized power relay 350
and/or a wireless transmitter 360. When the docking station
330 includes the centralized power relay 350, it may
provide power to the receiver unit 320, and the one or more
displays 340. When the docking station includes a wireless
transmitter 360, it may function in a similar manner as the
wireless transmitter 118, as described above. For example,
the wireless transmitter 360 can transmit and receive data
to and from the wireless receiver 114 and wireless enabled
devices connected to the wireless local area network, as
well as wirelessly transmit the audio signals for reception
by a wireless sound system in the vehicle, such as to
wireless headphones. The wireless transmitter 360 may use
various methods of transmission, such as, for example,
radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), BLUETOOTH, or 802.11
(e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n) transmission standards. In addition
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to being utilized with the wireless receiver 114 to create
an Internet-enabled wireless local area network, the
wireless transmitter 360 may be utilized without the
wireless receiver 114 to create a wireless local area
network without an Internet connection. Such a network may
be used to connect wireless enabled devices to each other.
It should be noted that the units attached to the data
bus 125 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3b are shown in this way for
ease of illustration, and there may be intervening
circuitry as envisioned by those skilled in the art.
Although exemplary embodiments of the present
invention have been described hereinabove, it should be
understood that the present invention is not limited to
these embodiments, but may be modified by those skilled in
the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by
the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but
should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with
the description as a whole.
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