Method for detecting errors during initialization of an electronic appliance and apparatus therefor

• US 20090276655A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing LLC (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Carbonnel, Louis-Xavier, Quere, Thierry, Colmagro, Jean-Claude
• Application Number:
  US11/988,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• 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

The invention concerns a method for detecting problems arising during the launching phase of a resident software of an electronic appliance to be detected. Said detection is carried out by means of data written in the non-volatile memory during said phase. Said data are then erased in case of success. In case of failure, it is then possible, upon the next restart, to use said data to detect the problem.

Claims

1. Method for detecting errors arising during the startup of an electronic device comprising permanent memory, this device being controlled by a resident software, wherein the resident software startup process comprises at least the following steps:

during an initial startup, at least one step to write information to the device'"'"'s memory before each module is launched, the startup process involving the successive launch of a plurality of modules,

during a second startup, a step to detect an error that arose during the first startup, according to the said information written to the memory during this first startup.

2. Method according to claim 1 also comprising a step to delete the information written to the memory on completion of an error-free launch of at least one part of the resident software.

3. Method according to claim 2 wherein the error-detection step is done by detecting the presence of said information written to the memory during the startup process.

4. Method according to claim 1, moreover comprising the triggering of an alarm following the detection of at least one previous startup having generated an error.

5. Method according to claim 4, moreover comprising a step to restore the default value of at least one parameter of the device when an alarm is triggered.

6. Method according to claim 4, moreover comprising a step to deactivate the launch of at least one module during the next device startup when an alarm is triggered.

7. Method according to claim 4, moreover comprising a step causing a download of a new version of resident software when an alarm is triggered.

8. Method according to claim 4, moreover comprising a step causing the display of information for the user when an alarm is triggered.

9. Electronic device comprising the permanent memory, a resident software designed to control it, resident software launch means upon startup of the device also comprising means to write information to the device memory before the launch of each module during the startup process that comprises the successive launch of a plurality of modules and means to detect an error arising during the previous startup according to the said information written to the memory during the startup process.

10. Device according to claim 9 moreover comprising means to delete the information written to the memory on completion of an error-free launch of at least one part of the resident software.

11. Device according to claim 9, moreover comprising means to trigger an alarm following the detection of at least one previous startup having generated an error.

12. Device according to claim 11, moreover comprising means to reset the default value of at least one parameter of the device when an alarm is triggered.

13. Device according to claim 11, moreover comprising means to deactivate the launch of at least one module during the next device startup when an alarm is triggered.

14. Device according to claim 11, moreover comprising means to cause a download of a new version of resident software when an alarm is triggered.

15. Device according to claim 11, moreover comprising means to display information for the user when an alarm is triggered.