Set-Top Box with Enhanced Content and System and Method for Use of Same

A set-top box comprising:

• a housing securing a signal input, a signal output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the signal input, the signal output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless communication antenna associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless communication antenna being a WiFi transmitter, the wireless communication antenna configured to send a wireless signal to a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the signal input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the signal output configured to forward a fully tuned audiovisual signal to a display;
• a network connection identification visible at the display, the network connection identification enabling the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to subscribe to the wireless signal;
• and
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• receive a source signal from the external source,
• generate the fully tuned audiovisual signal from the source signal,
• generate a wireless signal having the audio component of the fully tuned audiovisual signal,
• forward the fully tuned audiovisual signal to the display via the signal output, and
• transmit the wireless signal via the wireless communication antenna using a Bluetooth network connection protocol.

A set-top box system comprising:

• first and second set-top boxes each comprising:
• a housing securing a signal input, a signal output, a processor, memory, and storage therein;
• a busing architecture communicatively interconnecting the signal input, the signal output, the processor, the memory, and the storage;
• a wireless communication antenna associated with the housing and coupled to the busing architecture, the wireless communication antenna being a WiFi transmitter, the wireless communication antenna configured to send a wireless signal to a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device;
• the signal input configured to receive a source signal from an external source;
• the signal output configured to forward a fully tuned audiovisual signal to a display;
• a network connection identification visible at the display, the network connection identification enabling the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to subscribe to the wireless signal;
• and
• the memory accessible to the processor, the memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• receive a source signal from the external source,
• generate the fully tuned audiovisual signal from the source signal,
• generate a wireless signal having the audio component of the fully tuned audiovisual signal,
• forward the fully tuned audiovisual signal to the display via the signal output, and
• transmit the wireless signal via the wireless communication antenna using a Bluetooth network connection protocol;
• and
• the respective network connection identifications of the first and second set-top boxes being different.