US 8,014,449 B2 · Communications signal transcoder

Abstract

Communications signal transcoder. A solution is provided to transcode a signal from a first signal type to a second signal type to ensure proper interfacing between devices that may operate using different signal types. For example, within a communication system, a first signal type (having a first modulation type, e.g., 8 PSK) may be received. The transcoder then ensures that this signal, after it has undergone any initial processing (such as tuning, down-converting, decoding, and so on), is encoded into a second signal type (having a second modulation type, e.g., QPSK) such that it can interface properly with a device for which the received signal is intended. This transcoder functionality may be implemented within discrete components, or it may alternatively be integrated within a functional block of an integrated circuit. This functionality may be implemented in a variety of communication systems including satellite, cable television, Internet, and others.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a transcoder functional block for processing a first signal having a first signal type thereby generating a second signal having a second signal type;
and
a microcontroller or a state machine, communicatively coupled to the transcoder functional block, for directing operation of the transcoder functional block in processing the first signal thereby generating the second signal;
a first DiSEqC (Digital Satellite Equipment Control) transceiver for interfacing the microcontroller or the state machine to an LNB (Low Noise Block Converter) of a satellite dish;
and
a second DiSEqC transceiver for interfacing the microcontroller or the state machine to a Set Top Box (STB);
and wherein:
the first signal type includes a first modulation, a first code rate, a first symbol rate, and a first data rate;
the second signal type includes a second modulation, a second code rate, a second symbol rate, and a second data rate;
and
the microcontroller or the state machine being operative to coordinate communication and control of the STB and the LNB.

8 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a transcoder functional block for processing a first signal having a first signal type thereby generating a second signal having a second signal type;
and
a microcontroller or a state machine, communicatively coupled to the transcoder functional block, for directing operation of the transcoder functional block in processing the first signal thereby generating the second signal;
and wherein:
the first signal type includes a first modulation, a first code rate, a first symbol rate, and a first data rate;
and
the second signal type includes a second modulation, a second code rate, a second symbol rate, and a second data rate.

4 more elements

A method, comprising:

operating a transcoder functional block for processing a first signal having a first signal type thereby generating a second signal having a second signal type;
and
operating a microcontroller or a state machine, communicatively coupled to the transcoder functional block, for directing operation of the transcoder functional block in processing the first signal thereby generating the second signal;
and wherein:
the first signal type includes a first modulation, a first code rate, a first symbol rate, and a first data rate;
and
the second signal type includes a second modulation, a second code rate, a second symbol rate, and a second data rate.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Communications signal transcoder

Life of this patent

Communications signal transcoder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20