Wireless communication device using adaptive beamforming

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a radio frequency (RF) receiver having a digitally controlled phased array antenna coupled to and controlled by the processor to receive content from a transmitter using adaptive beamforming over a first wireless communication channel to a transmitter of the content;
• and
• an interface to a second wireless communication channel coupled to the processor to communicate antenna information related to use of the phased array antenna to enable the transmitter to select a direction for a phased array antenna of the transmitter based on the antenna location information of the phased array antenna of the receiver and performance information corresponding to the antenna location of the phased array antenna of the receiver, and to communicate information to facilitate playing the content received from the transmitter over the first communication channel, including content protection information received by the receiver over the second wireless communication channel, wherein the processor sends an indication of the status of the first communication channel being received by the phased array antenna via the interface when the phased array antenna is operating in a mode during which content may be transferred, and wherein the indication from of the status comprises an indication from the receiver that prompts the transmitter to steer the beam of the phased array antenna of the transmitter in another direction in response to interference with transmission of portions of the content;
• and
• wherein the content protection information comprises one or more of encryption keys sent by the processor and one or more acknowledgments sent from a receiver of one or more encryption keys from the processor.

A peripheral comprising:

• a receiver comprising
• a processor,
• a radio frequency (RF) receiver having a digitally controlled phased array antenna coupled to and controlled by the processor to receive content from a transmitter using adaptive beamforming, and
• an interface to a second wireless communication channel coupled to the processor to communicate antenna information related to use of the phased array antenna to enable the transmitter to select a direction for a phased array antenna of the transmitter based on the antenna location information of the phased array antenna of the receiver and performance information corresponding to the antenna location of the phased array antenna of the receiver, and to communicate information to facilitate playing the content received from the transmitter over the first communication channel, including content protection information received by the receiver over the second wireless communication channel, wherein the processor sends an indication of the status of the first communication channel being received by the phased array antenna via the interface when the phased array antenna is operating in a mode during which content may be transferred, and wherein the indication from of the status comprises an indication from the receiver that prompts the transmitter to steer the beam of the phased array antenna of the transmitter in another direction in response to interference with transmission of portions of the content, and
• wherein the content protection information comprises encryption keys sent by the processor and wherein the receiver sends, on the second wireless communication channel, one or more acknowledgments corresponding to one or more encryption keys from the processor;
• a display screen;
• a display controller coupled to receive the content and to cause the content to be displayed on the display screen.

A peripheral comprising:

• a receiver comprising
• a processor,
• a radio frequency (RF) receiver having a digitally controlled phased array antenna coupled to and controlled by the processor to receive content from a transmitter using adaptive beamforming, and
• an interface to a second wireless communication channel coupled to the processor to communicate antenna information related to use of the phased array antenna to enable the transmitter to select a direction for a phased array antenna of the transmitter based on the antenna location information of the phased array antenna of the receiver and performance information corresponding to the antenna location of the phased array antenna of the receiver, and to communicate information to facilitate playing the content received from the transmitter over the first communication channel, including content protection information received by the receiver over the second wireless communication channel, wherein the processor sends an indication of the status of the first communication channel being received by the phased array antenna via the interface when the phased array antenna is operating in a mode during which content may be transferred, and wherein the indication from of the status comprises an indication from the receiver that prompts the transmitter to steer the beam of the phased array antenna of the transmitter in another direction in response to interference with transmission of portions of the content, and
• wherein the content protection information comprises encryption keys sent by the processor and wherein the receiver sends, on the second wireless communication channel, one or more acknowledgments corresponding to one or more encryption keys from the processor;
• and
• a DVD device coupled to receive and play the content.