Apparatuses and methods for receiving software/firmware

• US 20060294574A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cha, Sang Hoon
• Application Number:
  US11/455,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294574A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/152
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A host includes a plurality of tuners and a controller configured to receive a request for software such as firmware. The controller further configured to select an unoccupied tuner from the plurality of tuners and to receive the firmware through the selected tuner.

Claims

1. A host comprising:

a plurality of tuners;

a controller configured to receive a request for firmware;

the controller further configured to select an unoccupied tuner from the plurality of tuners; and

the controller further configured to receive the firmware through the selected tuner.

2. The host as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tuners is occupied with a corresponding application, and wherein the controller is configured to select a tuner based on importance associated with the applications.

3. The host as set forth in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to store status information associated with the application corresponding to the selected tuner.

4. The host as set forth in claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to restore the status information to the selected tuner so that the corresponding application can resume operation through the selected tuner after receiving the firmware.

5. The host as set forth in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to refer to status information relating to the applications associated with each of the plurality of tuners when selecting a tuner to receive the firmware.

6. The host as set forth in claim 5, wherein the status information includes at least one of:

a tuner identifier that identifies a tuner;

an occupation identifier that identifies whether the tuner is occupied;

a priority identifier that identifies a priority of an application that is occupying the tuner; and

an application identifier that identifies the application occupying the tuner.

7. The host as set forth in claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to select a tuner using the priority identifier, when all the tuners are occupied.

8. The host as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to forward the firmware to a source requesting the firmware.

9. The host as set forth in claim 8, wherein the source includes a cable card.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for firmware;

selecting an unoccupied tuner from a plurality of tuners; and

receiving the firmware through the selected tuner.

11. A processor executable medium having instructions contained therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the method of claim 10.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein when all the tuners are occupied, the method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a tuner based on importance associated with applications that occupy each of the plurality of tuners; and

receiving the firmware through the selected tuner.

13. A processor executable medium having instructions contained therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the method of claim 12.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprises the step of storing status information for the application associated with the selected tuner after the firmware has been received.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, further comprises the step of restoring the status information to the selected tuner so that the corresponding application can resume operation through the selected tuner.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12, further comprises the step of referring to status information relating to the applications associated with each of the plurality of tuners when selecting a tuner to receive the firmware.

17. A processor executable medium having instructions contained therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the method of claim 16.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprises the step of selecting a tuner based on priority, when all the tuners are occupied.

19. A processor executable medium having instructions contained therein, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform the method of claim 18.

20. The method as set forth in claim 10, further comprises the step of forwarding the firmware to a source requesting the firmware.