Abstract: A method of and apparatus for directly routing the output an internal television tuner allowing for the use of a decoded audio-video data signal by a remote device. The method of and apparatus for routing the output signal of a television's internal tuner allowing for direct use of a decoded audio-video data signal comprises receiving a digital broadcast signal at a television, decoding the broadcast signal with one or more digital tuners within the television to generate a decoded audio-video data signal, and routing the decoded audio-video data signal from the tuner to an output port of the television, wherein the output port is configured to communicably couple to a remote device, such as a recording device or a remote display screen. The audio-video data signal comprises an audio-video signal and control data. Preferably, the decoded audio-video data is in a digital format. Alternatively, the decoded audio-video data is in an analog format.

Abstract: An automatically configuring storage array includes a plurality of media storage devices coupled together within a network of devices. Preferably, the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-2000 serial bus network of devices. The media storage devices are utilized to record and retrieve streams of data transmitted within the network of devices. The media storage devices communicate with each other in order to store and retrieve streams of data over multiple media storage devices, if necessary. When a record or playback command is received by any one of the media storage devices, the media storage devices send control communications between themselves to ensure that the stream of data is recorded or transmitted, as appropriate. Control of the record or transmit operation is also transferred between the media storage devices in order to utilize the full capacity of the available media storage devices. Preferably, streams of data are recorded utilizing redundancy techniques.