Portable apparatus for enabling reproduction of television

A portable apparatus for enabling reproduction of television on a host, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an interface to allow power to be supplied to the apparatus from the host, executable commands to be received by the apparatus from the host, and processed television signals to be sent to the host from the apparatus;
• (b) a non-volatile memory;
• (c) a micro control unit for processing the control signals and for sending processed television signals, as well as for controlling the non-volatile memory;
• and
• (d) a television tuner for receiving television signals, processing the received television signals in accordance with executable commands received from the host and sending the processed television signals to the micro control unit for sending to the host.

A portable apparatus for enabling reproduction of television on a host, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an interface to allow power to be supplied to the apparatus from the host, executable commands to be received by the apparatus from the host, and processed television signals to be sent to the host from the apparatus;
• (b) a television tuner for receiving television signals, processing the received television signals in accordance with the executable commands received from the host, and sending the processed television signals to the host;
• and
• (c) a non-volatile memory for storing application software for the television tuner, the application software being downloaded to the television tuner upon receipt of a required executable command from the host.

A method for enabling reproduction of television on a host by use of a portable apparatus, the method comprising:

• (a) activating a television tuner of the portable apparatus;
• (b) downloading application software to the television tuner from a non-volatile memory of the portable apparatus;
• (c) receiving and processing television signals at the television tuner;
• and
• (d) sending the processed television signals to the host for reproduction by the host.

A method for enabling reproduction of television on a host by use of a portable apparatus, the method comprising:

• (a) connecting the portable apparatus to the host by use of an interface to allow power to be supplied to the apparatus from the host, executable command to be received by the apparatus from the host, and processed television signals to be sent to the host from the apparatus;
• (b) receiving television signals at a television tuner of the portable apparatus;
• and
• (c) processing the received television signals in the television tuner in accordance with executable commands received from the host, and sending the processed television signals from the television tuner to the host.