Broadcom unveiled a new platform that combines its Bluetooth wireless solutions with its digital cable and satellite television set-top box (STB) technologies. The goal is to expand traditional STB functionality and make these systems compatible with the vast and growing universe of Bluetooth remote control, audio and handset devices.
Potential benefits of adding Bluetooth to STBs include:
- Enables a cellular network to be used for ordering or recovering orders for pay per view or other services when a land line is not present or not conveniently located near a STB.
- Allows channel changes with the entertainment cabinet door closed, eliminating the need for line-of-sight IR technology.
- Enables wireless headsets and wireless speakers.
- Enables whole house remotes with two-way services
- Enables sound, vibration and motion sensing controllers
- Could be used in user-friendly remotes with displays
- Enables cell phone downloads of pictures for storage or display.
- Enables Bluetooth connections from STBs to landline phone jacks.
- Enables Bluetooth mouse and keyboard connections.
- Enables Bluetooth connections of cell phones, laptops and PDAs to STBs and provides synchronization of calendars, meetings, etc.
Broadcom’s new Bluetooth and set-top box reference design is based on the company’s high definition (HD) MPEG-4 reference platforms. It utilizes the BCM740x series of HD MPEG-4 devices in conjunction with Broadcom’s BCM2046 Bluetooth solution. The BCM2046 is the industry’s first solution to combine Bluetooth 2.1 features, enhanced data rate (EDR) technology and a Class 1 radio frequency transceiver in a single, monolithic chip.
http://www.broadcom.com