METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR UPGRADING SET TOP BOX DEVICES WITHOUT THE LOSS OF STORED CONTENT

• US 20090254966A1
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Stephen, Josephs, Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/140
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for smoothly and efficiently upgrading set top boxes, e.g., personal video recorders, which have customer selected content stored thereon are described. The described methods allow content stored on a set top box to be uploaded to a network storage device, e.g., automatically at a predetermined time prior to a scheduled upgrade, or in some cases, via manual control of the set top box to be upgraded. After stored content is uploaded to the network storage device, the set top box is replaced with a new set top box. The new set top box can be preloaded with the previously uploaded content or a content download can be triggered, e.g., by activating a hidden application and by supplying information identifying the set top box being replaced as part of the upgrade process.

Claims

1. A method of performing a set top box upgrade for a customer, the method comprising:

storing information indicating when a set top box is scheduled to be upgraded;

prior to the scheduled upgrade, automatically initiating an upload of stored video content from the set top box to be upgraded to a network storage device; and

downloading the uploaded stored video content from the network storage device to a second set top box, said second set top box being used to replace said set top box to be upgraded.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to downloading the uploaded stored video content,

receiving a signal used to initiate a download of stored content, uploaded from said set top box to be upgraded, to said second set top box.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing information identifying the set top box to be upgraded on said network storage device in addition to video content uploaded from said set top box.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving a signal used to initiate a download of stored content to the second set top box includes receiving, from said second set top box, information identifying the set top box to be upgraded.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded is a MAC address.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said signal used to initiate a download of stored content is communicated over a cable network from said second set top box.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising,

prior to said signal used to initiate a download of stored content being received:

activating a hidden application on said second set top box; and

entering into said second set top box said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said hidden application is an installer application on said set top box to be upgraded.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

generating a label corresponding to the second set top box including information identifying the customer premise at which the set top box to be upgraded is located.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

initiating delivery of said second set top box to the customer premise at which the set top box to be upgraded is located.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

printing a return shipping label to be used in shipping the set top box to be upgraded; and

including the printed return label with the second set top box when it is shipped to the customer premise at which the set top box to be upgraded is located.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating delivery of the second set top box includes scheduling delivery of the set top box with a delivery service.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating delivery of the second set top box includes scheduling an installer to deliver and install the second set top box.

14. A system for use in upgrading a set top box, the system comprising:

a scheduling module for storing information indicating when a set top box is scheduled to be upgraded;

an upload module for automatically initiating an upload of stored video content from the set top box to be upgraded to a network storage device prior to the scheduled upgrade; and

a download module for downloading the uploaded stored video content from the network storage device to a second set top box, said second set top box being used to replace said set top box to be upgraded.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a signal processing module for receiving and processing a signal used to initiate a download of stored content, uploaded from said set top box to be upgraded, to said second set top box, prior to downloading the uploaded stored video content.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising said network storage device, said network storage device including:

a data storage module including information identifying the set top box to be upgraded and video content uploaded from said set top box.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said signal a signal processing module includes a network interface for receiving via a communications network, said signal used to initiate a download of stored content to the second set top box;

and

an identification module for identifying the set top box to be upgraded from information included in the received signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded is a MAC address.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said signal used to initiate a download of stored content is communicated over a cable network from said second set top box.

20. A method of performing a set top box upgrade for a customer using a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving from a set top box to be upgraded, a signal used to initiate network storage of video content stored on said set top box;

storing video content uploaded from the set top box to be upgraded on a network storage device;

receiving from a second set top box, a signal used to initiate a download of stored content uploaded from said set top box to be upgraded; and

downloading the uploaded stored video content from the network storage device to said second set top box, said second set top box replacing, in said communications network, said set top box to be upgraded.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

storing information identifying the set top box to be upgraded on said network storage device in addition to video content uploaded from said set top box.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving a signal used to initiate a download of stored content to the second set top box includes receiving, from said second set top box, information identifying the set top box to be upgraded.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded is a MAC address.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said signal used to initiate a download of stored content is communicated over a cable network from said second set top box.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising,

prior to said signal used to initiate a download of stored content being received:

activating a hidden application on said second set top box; and

entering into said second set top box said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said hidden application is an installer application on said set top box to be upgraded.

27. A system for use in upgrading a set top box, the system comprising:

a receiver module for receiving signals from set top boxes including a first signal used to initiate storage, on a network storage device, of video content stored on a set top box to be upgraded, and a second signal used to initiate a download of content stored on said network storage device;

a storage module for storing on said network storage device, in response to receipt of said first signal by said receiver module, video content uploaded from the set top box to be upgraded; and

a download module for downloading the uploaded stored video content from the network storage device to the second set top box in response to said second signal.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising said network storage device, said network storage device including:

a data storage module including information identifying the set top box to be upgraded and video content uploaded from said set top box.

29. The system of claim 28,

wherein said receiver module includes an network interface for receiving said signals from a cable network;

and

an identification module for identifying the set top box to be upgraded from information included in the second signal.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said information identifying the set top box to be upgraded is a MAC address.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said signal used to initiate a download of stored content is communicated over the cable network from said second set top box.