Digital residential entertainment system

Abstract

A digital residential entertainment system is disclosed recording video data of an event. One component of this digital residential entertainment system is a set-top box decoding digital signals. The set-top box includes a processor communicating with memory and an input to a data switch interface. The data switch interface receives digital information from a data switch.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a set-top box decoding digital signals, the set-top box comprising    a processor communicating with memory, and    a data switch interface for receiving digital information from a data switch.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the data switch interface comprises an Ethernet data switch interface, the Ethernet data switch interface providing an interface to an Ethernet data switch.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising decryption logic coupled to the data switch interface, the decryption logic decrypting digital information signals received from the data switch.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising decoder logic converting digital information signals.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals from a remote control.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a data switch interface coupled with a switch port of a data switch via a high bandwidth communications link for selecting and receiving digital information from at least one of a plurality of multimedia sources;    a processor for controlling selection of information via the data switch interface; and    processing logic for processing the received digital information for output.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the data switch interface comprises an Ethernet data switch interface, the Ethernet data switch interface providing an interface to an Ethernet data switch.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing logic comprises decryption logic coupled to the data switch interface, the decryption logic decrypting digital information signals received from the data switch.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the processing logic comprises decoder logic converting digital information signals.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the received radio signals are used to control selection of the digital information.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising a radio frequency receiver receiving radio signals from a remote control.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the data switch interface is coupled to the switch port via a dedicated communications link.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the data switch interface is coupled to the switch port via a shared communications link.