Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP
Digital television data format conversion with automatic parity detection
 A digital television (DTV) data format converter of a system automatically detects whether a serial data stream includes parity data and converts the serial DTV data stream to a parallel DTV data stream. The DTV data format converter transmits the parallel DTV data stream converted from the serial DTV data stream in accordance with a first conversion protocol if the serial DTV data stream includes parity data. If the serial DTV data stream does not include parity data, the converter transmits the parallel DTV data stream converted from the serial DTV data stream in accordance with a second conversion protocol. In this way, the converter accommodates a serial DTV data stream with or without parity data. The DTV data format converter may be implemented in the form of a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) card, permitting compatibility with computer systems and other PCI-based systems. The DTV data format converter may include a receiver block, a transmitter block, and a buffer. 
Compaq Computer Corporation
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inventional additional inventional
Michael P. Thanh T.
Moriarty Tran