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Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems

Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems description/claims

This application is a divisional of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/613,596, filed Jul. 3, 2003 and entitled Wired, Wireless, Infrared, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, which is a continuation-in-part patent application of patent application Ser. No. 10/353,805, filed Jan. 27, 2003 and entitled Wired, Wireless, Infrared, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, which claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/351,843, filed Jan. 25, 2002 and entitled Wired, Wireless, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, Ser. No. 60/353,806, filed Feb. 1, 2002 and entitled Wired, Wireless, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, Ser. No. 60/371,268, filed Apr. 8, 2002, and entitled Wired, Wireless, Infrared, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, and Ser. No. 60/407,432, filed Aug. 28, 2002, and entitled Wired, Wireless, Infrared, and Powerline Audio Entertainment Systems, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to home networks. More particularly, the invention provides a method and system for communicating audio and control signals, via a wired, wireless, infrared, or a powerline medium, to control one or more remote entertainment systems throughout a home.

2. Description of Related Art

A communication system for a home network facilitates two-way communication between a plurality of devices within the home. These devices can be fixed or portable and can include, for example, televisions, computers, stereos, speakers, monitors, printers, and other electronic appliances. For these devices to communicate throughout a home, they interface with the home network.

The systems and methods of the present invention have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments” one will understand how the features of this invention provide several advantages over traditional audio entertainment systems.

One aspect of the invention relates to a method for communicating an audio signal along with an associated control signal between a source transmitter bridged to a wired, wireless, infrared, or powerline data stream or network.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a system including a receiver, processor, and amplifier wherein the audio signal and the associated control signal are received via the network. The audio signal is amplified and broadcast via a loudspeaker, Embodiments of the loudspeaker include headphones, mono loudspeaker, stereo loudspeaker, and multi-channel loudspeaker systems.

Still another aspect is an apparatus for receiving an audio signal via a network. The apparatus comprises a housing, a receiver module located in the housing and configured to receive a combined signal via a network and extract a control signal and an audio signal from the combined signal, and a plug coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle. The apparatus further comprising a power supply in the housing, coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the receiver module, and an output wire configured to couple the housing to an output device.

Yet another aspect is an apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network. The apparatus comprises a housing, a transmitter module located in the housing and configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network. The apparatus further comprising a plug coupled to the housing and configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle, a power supply in the housing, coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the transmitter module, and an input wire configured to couple the housing to an input device.

Another aspect is an apparatus for receiving an audio signal via a network. The apparatus comprises a first housing that comprises a receiver module configured to receive a combined signal via a network and extract a control signal and an audio signal from the combined signal. The apparatus further comprising a second housing that comprises a plug configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle and a power supply coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the receiver module. The apparatus still further comprising a wire coupled between the first housing and the second housing and an output wire configured to couple the first housing to an output device.

A further aspect is an apparatus for transmitting an audio signal via a network. The apparatus comprises a first housing that comprises a transmitter module configured to receive an audio signal and a control signal, combine the audio and control signals into a combined signal, and transmit the combined signal to a receiver module via a network. The apparatus further comprises a second housing that comprises a plug configured for insertion into an electrical receptacle and a power supply coupled to the plug and configured to distribute electrical energy to the transmitter module. The apparatus still further comprising an input wire configured to couple the first housing to an input device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system for a home network that can be connected using a wired, wireless, or powerline network.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an embodiment of the communication system that has a set top box connected to a loudspeaker using a wired, wireless, or powerline network.

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