Multipurpose television module

• US 20070028260A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Blanchard, Robert, Ozawa, Toshiro, Candelore, Brant, Boyden, David, Yu, Xudong, Toft, Rolf, Pedlow, Leo, Williams, George, Read, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,649,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

An external module for use with a host television device consistent with certain embodiments wherein the host television device receives at least one content service has a connector for attaching to the module. Java™ code is received from the content service being received by the host television device over the connector. An application execution engine residing on the external module carries out execution of the Java™ code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A multi-function module apparatus for use in a host television device, the host cable television device having a connector, comprising in combination:

a removable module;

an application execution engine residing on the removable module suitable for execution of code;

a conditional access (CA) decrypter that decrypts content entering the module using a conditional access decryption mechanism;

a first encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a second encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a module side connector having a plurality of programmable connections, the connector being affixed to the removable module and suitable for mating with the connector of the host device;

a processor residing on the module, said processor being programmed to configure a function of the connections after executing a boot sequence, the processor being further programmed to configure at least one of the first or second encrypters to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter; and

the processor further being programmed to enable or disable the application execution engine.

2. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third encrypter, and wherein the processor is further programmed to configure at least one of the first or second or third encrypters to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter.

3. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module side connector has connections suitable for carrying graphics video data from the application execution engine to the host device suitable presentation to a video display;

and

the module side connector further having connections suitable for carrying the code instructions to the application engine for execution.

4. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a content decoder and a decompressed interface for content, and wherein the processor is further programmed to configure the interface to pass the decompressed content to the host television device.

5. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a combiner that overlays at least a portion of the unencrypted and decompressed content from the decoder with the graphics video data from the application execution engine so that both the decompressed content and the graphics video data are passed through the interface.

6. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a demultiplexer and decoder that processes the CA decrypted content prior to combining at the combiner.

7. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, where the connector comprises one of the following:

Ethernet, Power Line, coax, USB, USB 2.0, PCMCIA, CableCARD™

, Multi-stream CableCARD™

, DVB CAM, and a special function connector.

8. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising circuitry implementing at least one of the OpenCable™

M-CARD conditional access functions and the OpenCable™

S-CARD conditional access functions residing on the removable module.

9. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine certain of the host television device'"'"'s capabilities.

10. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application execution engine comprises a Java™

code execution engine.

11. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application execution engine comprises at least one of an OCAP compliant execution engine and an MHP compliant execution engine.

12. A multi-function module apparatus for use in a host television device, the host cable television device having a connector, comprising in combination:

a removable module;

an OpenCable™

Applications Platform (OCAP) engine residing on the removable module suitable for execution of Java™

code as specified by the OCAP specification;

a conditional access (CA) decrypter that decrypts content entering the module using a conditional access decryption mechanism;

a Dynamic Feedback Arrangement Scrambling Technique (DFAST) encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) compliant encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a module side connector having a plurality of programmable connections, the connector being affixed to the removable module and suitable for mating with the connector of the host device;

a processor residing on the module, said processor being programmed to configure a function of the connections after executing a boot sequence, the processor being further programmed to configure at least one of the DFAST or DTCP compliant encrypters to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter; and

the processor further being programmed to enable or disable the OCAP engine.

13. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an Open Cable Unidirectional Receiver encrypter, and wherein the processor is further programmed to configure at least one of the OCUR DRM or DFAST or DTCP compliant encrypters to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter.

14. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the module side connector has connections suitable for carrying graphics video data from the OCAP engine to the host device suitable presentation to a video display;

and the module side connector further having connections suitable for carrying Java™

code instructions to the OCAP engine for execution.

15. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a content decoder that receives content from the CA decrypter and a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), and wherein the processor is further programmed to configure a fourth encrypter to encrypt the content using High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) to pass the encrypted content from the content decoder to the host television device.

16. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a combiner that overlays at least a portion of the decompressed content with the graphics video data from the OCAP engine before being encrypted with HDCP and sent over the HDMI interface.

17. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a content decoder that receives content from the CA decrypter and a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), and wherein the processor is further programmed to configure the HDMI interface to pass at least a portion of the decompressed content from the decoder to the host television device.

18. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising circuitry implementing at least one of the OpenCable™

M-CARD conditional access functions and the OpenCable™

S-CARD conditional access functions residing on the removable module.

19. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine certain of the host television device'"'"'s capabilities.

20. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device can receive content using Internet Protocol.

21. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device has OCAP capabilities.

22. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device needs OCAP functionality on the module.

23. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device is a Multi-stream host or a Single-stream host.

24. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a combiner that overlays at least a portion of the decompressed content with the graphics video data from the OCAP engine prior to being passed through the HDMI interface.

25. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising circuitry implementing at least one of the OpenCable™

M-CARD conditional access functions and the OpenCable™

S-CARD conditional access functions residing on the multi-function module apparatus.

26. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine certain of the host television device'"'"'s capabilities.

27. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device can receive content using Internet Protocol.

28. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device has OCAP capabilities.

29. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device needs OCAP functionality on the multi-function module apparatus.

30. The multi-function module apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device is a Multi-stream host or a Single stream host.

23-1. A multi-function module apparatus for use in a host television device, the host cable television device having a connector, comprising in combination:

a removable module;

an OpenCable™

Applications Platform (OCAP) engine residing on the removable module suitable for execution of Java™

code as specified by the OCAP specification;

a conditional access (CA) decrypter that decrypts content entering the module using a conditional access decryption mechanism;

a content decoder which decompresses the content;

a Dynamic Feedback Arrangement Scrambling Technique (DFAST) encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) compliant encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

an Open Cable Unidirectional Receiver approved-DRM encrypter that selectively receives the decrypted content from the CA decrypter and re-encrypts the decrypted content;

a High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) encrypter for encrypting un-compressed content that is sent out the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI);

a module side connector having a plurality of connections, the connector being affixed to the removable module and suitable for mating with the connector of the host device;

a processor residing on the module, said processor being programmed to execute a boot sequence, and after executing the boot sequence, the processor is further programmed to configure at least one of the OCUR DRM or DFAST or DTCP compliant encrypters to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter or the HDCP encrypter to encrypt un-compressed content from a decoder; and

the processor further being programmed to enable or disable the OCAP engine.

31. A boot sequence for a processor residing on a multi-function module apparatus for use with a host television device, comprising:

interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device can receive a content stream using Internet Protocol (IP);

if the host television device can receive a stream using IP, interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device requires (OpenCable™

Application Platform) OCAP capabilities and establishing a first mode of OCAP operation of the multi-function module apparatus if the host television device requires OCAP capabilities; and

establishing an OpenCable™

Unidirectional Receiver mode of operation of the multi-function module apparatus if the host television device does not have OCAP capabilities.

32. The boot sequence according to claim 31, wherein if the host television device cannot receive a content stream using IP, the processor'"'"'s boot sequence further comprising an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device needs OCAP functionality on the multi-function module apparatus, and if so, establishing a second mode of operation of the multi-function module apparatus.

33. The boot sequence according to claim 31, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence further comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device is a Multi-stream host or a Single-stream host.

38. The boot sequence according to claim 31, wherein the processor'"'"'s boot sequence further comprises an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device is a Multi-stream host or a Single-stream host.

34. A boot sequence for a processor residing on a multi-function module apparatus for use with a host television device, comprising:

interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device can receive a stream using Internet Protocol (IP);

if the host television device can receive a stream using IP, interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device requires (OpenCable™

Application Platform) OCAP capabilities and establishing a first mode of OCAP operation of the multi-function module apparatus if the host television device requires OCAP capabilities, and establishing an OpenCable™

Unidirectional Receiver mode of operation of the multi-function module apparatus if the host television device does not have OCAP capabilities;

if the host television device is not an IP host television device, the processor'"'"'s boot sequence further comprising an interrogation of the host television device to determine if the host television device needs OCAP functionality on the multi-function module apparatus, and if so, establishing a second mode of operation of the multi-function module apparatus; and

the processor'"'"'s boot sequence further comprising an interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device is a Multi-stream host or a Single-stream host.

35. A boot sequence for a processor residing on a multi-function module apparatus for use with a host television device, comprising:

interrogating the host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the multi-function module apparatus;

if so, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device; and

if not, disabling the application execution engine in the multi-function module apparatus.

36. The boot sequence according to claim 35, wherein the application engine comprises a Java™

code execution engine.

37. The boot sequence according to claim 35, wherein the application engine comprises at least one of an (OpenCable™

Application Platform) OCAP application engine and a Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) application execution engine.

39. An external module for use with a host television device, the host television device receiving at least one content service, comprising:

a connector for attaching the module to the host television device;

wherein Java™

code received from the content service is passed over the connector to the external module by the host television device; and

an application execution engine residing on the external module suitable for execution of the Java™

code.

40. The external module according to claim 39, further comprising means to convey graphical information generated by the application execution engine to the host television device for rendering on a television display.

41. The external module according to claim 39, further comprising means to convey content comprising at least one of tuning, storage, usage, and trick-play commands generated by the application execution engine to the host television device.

42. The external module according to claim 39, further comprising a means to receive and respond to remote control commands from the host television device.

43. The external module according to claim 39, where the connector comprises one of the following:

Ethernet, Power Line, coax, USB, USB 2.0, PCMCIA, CableCARD, Multi-stream CableCARD™

, DVB CAM, and a special function connector.

44. The external module according to claim 39, where the module also performs conditional access (CA) descrambling of the content.

45. The external module according to claim 44, where the module also performs copy protection on compressed content that is returned as it follows back to the host television device.

46. The external module according to claim 45, where the compressed, copy protected content is sent back to the host as at least one of IEEE1394, CableCARD™

, DVB CAM, and OCUR/DRI format.

47. The external module according to claim 45, where the compressed content but un-copy protected content is sent back to the host in IEEE1394, CableCARD™

format, DVB CAM and OCUR/DRI format.

48. The external module according to claim 44, where the module decompresses the content and creates a composite signal sent back to the host TV device.

49. The external module according to claim 48, where the graphics data obtained from processing the Java™

code is first overlaid on the decompressed signal.

50. The external module according to claim 48, where the graphics data obtained from processing the Java™

code is output separately from the decompressed signal.

51. The external module according to claim 48, where the composite signal sent back to the host device conforms to one of HDMI and DVI.