Signal interface for a bi-directional communication device

In a system for decoding video signals received from first and second sources and supporting continuous bi-directional communication with said first source, apparatus providing a signal interface for conditioning signals received from said second source and communicated between said system and said first source, comprising:

• first and second terminals operable to receive signals from said first and second sources respectively;
• a signal splitting device operable to split a signal derived from a signal received by said first terminal to provide first and second signals that substantially replicate said signal derived from said signal received by said first terminal;
• first and second tuners coupled to receive said first and second replicated signals from said splitting device and operable to tune to receive data being conveyed in said first and second replicated signals respectively;
• and
• a switch coupled to said splitting device and said second tuner, said switch in a first position providing coupling of said second replicated signal to said second tuner, and in a second position providing isolation of said second replicated signal from said second tuner and providing coupling of said video signal received from said second source to said second tuner.

A set top box comprising:

• a first terminal operable to receive a first signal from a first source and output a return signal to said first source;
• a diplexer coupled to said first terminal and operable to separate a received first signal from an outgoing return signal based on a difference of frequency bands of said first signal and said outgoing return signal;
• a signal splitter coupled to said diplexer and operable to separate said received first signal into first and second separated signals each of which substantially replicates said received first signal;
• a first tuner coupled to receive said first split signal and operable to tune to data conveyed in said first split signal;
• and
• a second tuner coupled to receive said second split signal and operable to tune to data conveyed in said second split signal.