Multicast downloading of software and data modules and their compatibility requirements
First Claim
1. A system for downloading information, comprising:
- a downloading source comprising a plurality of different modules each corresponding to a different set of terminal compatibility requirements which must be satisfied in order for the module to be downloaded by a terminal, a module descriptor table which associates each of the plurality of different modules with a set of descriptors which describe the different set of compatibility requirements, and means for transmitting the module descriptor table and the plurality of different modules over a network; and
a plurality of terminals each configured to receive the module descriptor table and the plurality of different modules transmitted from the downloading source, each terminal comprising means for extracting one or more sets of descriptors from the module descriptor table, finding a match between the one or more sets of descriptors and a terminal table which defines compatibility interfaces of the terminal, and downloading one of the plurality of modules associated with the matched set of descriptors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for downloading different versions of software or data modules into a plurality of terminals having different compatibility interfaces includes an authoring component for generating the different module versions, a downloading source including a descriptor table which associates each module version with a list of compatibility requirements needed to download the module, and a plurality of terminals coupled to the downloading source. The downloading source transmits the descriptor table to each terminal and also continuously transmits the modules over the network. Each terminal extracts the descriptor table and, based on a match between an entry in the descriptor table and an internally stored table, determines which version of a particular module should be downloaded. The system avoids the need for two-way communication between each terminal and the downloading source.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for downloading information, comprising:
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a downloading source comprising a plurality of different modules each corresponding to a different set of terminal compatibility requirements which must be satisfied in order for the module to be downloaded by a terminal, a module descriptor table which associates each of the plurality of different modules with a set of descriptors which describe the different set of compatibility requirements, and means for transmitting the module descriptor table and the plurality of different modules over a network; and
a plurality of terminals each configured to receive the module descriptor table and the plurality of different modules transmitted from the downloading source, each terminal comprising means for extracting one or more sets of descriptors from the module descriptor table, finding a match between the one or more sets of descriptors and a terminal table which defines compatibility interfaces of the terminal, and downloading one of the plurality of modules associated with the matched set of descriptors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A terminal compatible with a broadcast network, comprising:
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a terminal table comprising one or more fields which define compatibility interfaces of the terminal;
means for receiving from the network a table of entries each of which associates one of a plurality of downloadable modules with a plurality of terminal compatibility interfaces, comparing one of the fields in the terminal table with one of the entries in the table received from the network and, responsive to a determination that a match exists, downloading the one downloadable module corresponding to the matched entry. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of downloading a module across a network, comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a table which associates each of a plurality of downloadable modules with a plurality of compatibility descriptors, each compatibility descriptor indicating a terminal compatibility required in order to download the associated downloadable module;
(2) transmitting the table to a plurality of terminals in the network;
(3) receiving the transmitted table in one of the plurality of terminals; and
(4) comparing an entry in the table received in step (3) with a terminal table identifying terminal compatibilities and, responsive to a determination that a module can be downloaded based on the comparison, downloading the module over the network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification