Method and apparatus for providing digital set top box function and using television's remote control to control same

摘要

A process for refurbishing analog set top tuner/decoders which are not compatible with digital cable to convert same into a digital set top tuner/decoder which can tune any channel on a digital cable system and convert the digital data received on that channel into a video signal. The process comprises forming a replacement circuit and mounting said replacement circuit on the motherboard of the target set top tuner/decoder and then making circuit breaks at the appropriate points on the motherboard of said target set top tuner/decoder and connecting the appropriate points on the replacement circuit to the appropriate circuit breaks to complete the conversion. Also disclosed is a digital tuner/decoder which eliminates the need for the remote by picking up signals from the television's own local oscillator generated when an analog TV channel has been requested, and maps those to the desired digital channel and PID information, recovers the digital data and modulates onto an RF carrier having the frequency of the requested analog TV channel.