Methods and apparatus for software provisioning of a network device

• US 10,104,432 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Anderson, Lori, Straub, Albert William
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecklu, Isaac T
• Application Number:
  US11/607,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,337 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 OS software

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for provisioning or updating software over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a cable network, and each particular client device (e.g., set-top box) on the network is identified by an address or other unique descriptor. A version association file stored on a server or downloaded to the device maps particular application versions to one or more addresses corresponding to individual client devices. When the version association file is modified or created, the server transmits an upgrade message over the network (optionally along with the current version association file). Upon receiving an upgrade message, a set-top box accesses the version association file, and compares a designated application version to that of the application currently in use. If the designated version is not present on the set-top, the box will terminate any old version of the application currently running and download and install the designated version.

Claims

1. A computerized method of operating a service process within a content delivery network so as to selectively reconfigure one or more computerized client devices with a desired software configuration, the computerized method comprising:

generating an association file comprising a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records configured to associate each of a plurality of computerized client devices to an individual one of a plurality of software components, the individual one of the plurality of software components being configured to, when downloaded and executed thereon, enable a respective unique configuration of a computerized client device of the plurality of computerized client devices to which it is associated;

inserting, in accordance with a prescribed schedule, a record into the association file, the record being associated with a software component purchased by a user of the computerized client device from a third-party software source;

configuring a module on the computerized client device, the module configured to run on the computerized client device, thereby enabling the computerized client device to access the association file with the inserted record;

discovering, based at least in part on the computerized client device accessing the association file, the individual one of the plurality of software components to download and install on the computerized client device; and

causing download of the individual one of the plurality of software components to the computerized client device, the downloaded individual one of the plurality of software components configured for execution on the computerized client device;

wherein the execution causes the computerized client device to be reconfigured according to the unique configuration; and

wherein the inserted record is configured to customize the association file.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises providing an at least partly immutable module configured to run at startup or restart of the computerized client device only.

3. The computerized method of claim 2, wherein the configuring comprises transmitting, from a head-end entity of the content delivery network a message causing the computerized client device to restart.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the causing download comprises:

selecting the individual one of the plurality of software components from a carousel;

causing download of the individual one of the plurality of software components via an in-band downstream channel; and

causing installation of the individual one of the plurality of software components on the computerized client device, the individual one of the plurality of software components configured to automatically execute on the computerized client device.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data from the computerized client device, the data indicative that one or more anomalies are present within the association file, the one or more anomalies causing the individual one of the plurality of software components to not execute or terminate properly.

6. The computerized method of claim 5, further comprising:

comparing the individual one of the plurality of software components to at least one other software component disposed on the computerized client device to determine whether one or more incompatibles exist therebetween.

7. The computerized method of claim 6, further comprising:

changing at least one of (i) the individual one of the plurality of software components and (ii) at least one other software component until the one or more anomalies are eliminated.

8. Computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the non-transitory medium comprising at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:

generate an association file comprising a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records configured to associate each of a plurality of computerized client devices to an individual one of a plurality of software components the individual one of the plurality of software components configured to, when downloaded and executed thereon, enable a respective unique configuration of a computerized client device of the plurality of computerized client devices to which it is associated;

insert, in accordance with a prescribed schedule, a record into the association file, the record being associated with a software component purchased by a user of the computerized client device from a third-party software source;

configure a module operable to run on the computerized client device and configured to access the association file stored at an entity of a content delivery network;

discover, based at least in part on access of the association file by the module, at least one software component of the plurality of software components to download on the computerized client device;

cause download of the at least one software component to the computerized client device; and

execute the downloaded at least one software component on the computerized client device so as to reconfigure the computerized client device according to the unique configuration of the software component;

wherein the association file comprises both an application designation and an address designation; and

wherein the application designation is configured to indicate a target application, and the address designation is configured to indicate a range of addresses specified for the target application.

9. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the association file comprises a version association file (VAF).

10. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein address designation comprises at least one of:

a media access control (MAC) address, a Hub identifier (ID), and an empty setting.

11. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the address designation comprises at least one of a TUNER identifier (ID) or TUNER USE variable.

12. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the address designation comprises a one-way cryptographic hash value, the one-way cryptographic hash allowing for anonymous identification of individual ones of the client devices and association with one or more of different versions of the target application.

13. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application designation comprises an application identifier (ID) value or code.

14. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application designation comprises an application type, the application type comprising at least one of a type designating a monitor application or a conditional access (CA) application.

15. The computer readable apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application designation comprises an order of execution.

16. Computerized network apparatus configured for the operation of a content delivery network so as to selectively reconfigure one or more computerized client devices with a desired software configuration, the computerized network apparatus comprising:

server apparatus comprising;

processor apparatus;

network interface apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus; and

storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus, the storage apparatus comprising at least one computer program configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus;

generate an association file comprising a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records configured to associate each of a plurality of computerized client devices to an individual one of a plurality of software components, the individual one of the plurality of software components being configured to, when downloaded and executed thereon, enable a respective unique configuration of a computerized client device of the plurality of computerized client devices to which it is associated;

insert, in accordance with a prescribed schedule, a record into the association file, the record being associated with a software component purchased by a user of the computerized client device from a third-party software source;

configure a module on the computerized client device, the module configured to run on the computerized client device and enable the computerized client device to access the association file with the inserted record;

discover, based at least in part on access by the computerized client device of the association file, the individual one of the plurality of software components to download and install on the computerized client device; and

cause download of the individual one of the plurality of software components to the computerized client device, the downloaded individual one of the plurality of software components configured for execution on the computerized client device;

wherein the execution causes the computerized client device to be reconfigured in accordance with the unique configuration; and

wherein the inserted record is configured to customize the association file.

17. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the module comprises a client process, the client process configured for data communication with a server process;

the data communication between the client process and server process is enabled via a slotted approach, the slotted approach comprising (i) generation, via a random number generator in the computerized client device, of a random number corresponding to one of a range of slots, the one of the range of slots representative of a randomly selected time slot assignment, and (ii) utilize the randomly selected time slot assignment to access at least the server process; and

use of the slotted approach prevents one or more other computerized client devices from accessing the server process simultaneously.

18. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the individual one of the plurality of software components comprises a privileged monitor application within a software stack of the computerized client device, the privileged monitor application configured to determine, via access of a second association file stored at a headend entity associated of the content delivery network, whether an update to itself is needed.

19. The computerized network apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the privileged monitor application is configured to, based at least in part on a determination that the update to itself is needed, terminate execution of itself;

the client process is configured to detect the monitor application termination of execution;

the module is configured to identify an appropriate version of the privileged monitor application to by a reading of the second association file; and

the computerized client device is configured to download and cause execution of the appropriate version of the monitor application via the module.

20. The computerized network apparatus of claim 19, wherein the privileged monitor application comprises an OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP)-compliant monitor application.

21. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:

transmit to the computerized client device a notification of an upgrade to a second association file stored at a headend entity of the content delivery network;

determine, via access by the module the second association file, an appropriate version of an OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP)-compliant host digital navigation (ODN) application;

cause download of the appropriate version of the ODN application to the computerized client device; and

based at least on an occurrence of appropriate conditions within the computerized client device occurs, launch, via the module, the appropriate version of the ODN application.

22. The computerized network apparatus of claim 21, wherein the occurrence of appropriate conditions within the computerized client device comprises the termination of an existing ODN application.

23. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the individual one of the plurality of software components comprises a privileged monitor application disposed at an intermediary layer of a protocol stack of the computerized client device.

24. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the content delivery network comprises a managed content delivery network, and the computerized client device comprises an OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP)-compliant set-top box adapted to run at least one monitor application within a software stack thereof.

25. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the unique configuration comprises provision of an at least partly immutable module configured to run at startup or restart of the computerized client device only.

26. The computerized network apparatus of claim 25, wherein the unique configuration comprises transmission, from a headend entity of the content delivery network, a message configured to cause the computerized client device to restart.

27. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the causation of the download comprises:

selection of the individual one of the plurality of software components from a carousel;

causation of the download of the individual one of the plurality of software components via an in-band downstream channel; and

causation of an installation of the individual one of the plurality of software components on the computerized client device, the individual one of the plurality of software components configured to automatically execute on the computerized client device.

28. The computerized network apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:

receive data from the computerized client device, the data indicative that one or more anomalies are present within the association file, the one or more anomalies configured to cause the individual one of the plurality of software components to not execute or terminate properly.

29. The computerized network apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:

compare the individual one of the plurality of software components to at least one other software component disposed on the computerized client device to determine whether one or more incompatibles exist therebetween.

30. The computerized network apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:

change at least one of (i) the individual one of the plurality of software components and (ii) at least one other software component until the one or more anomalies are eliminated.