SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING SOFTWARE FOR A HOST DEVICE IN A CABLE SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of downloading software for a host comprising a set top box on a cable distribution network, comprising:
- receiving a host file at a host file database, wherein the host file contains a message used by a cable service provider for configuring said host on said cable distribution network and wherein the host file is associated for use with a specific host manufacturer and a model of the specific host manufacturer;
maintaining a first list in the host file database associating said at least one enhanced services system of said cable service provider with a destination address and the host file;
maintaining a second list in the host file database associating said at least one enhanced services system of said cable service provider with a set of communication parameters, the set of communication parameters including authentication information;
establishing a communications path between the host file database and the enhanced services system, the communications path using the destination address;
authenticating the host file database to the enhanced services system using in part the set of communications parameters;
transmitting the host file from the host file database to the enhanced services system;
receiving a confirmation of the receipt of the host file from the enhanced services system; and
recording an indication of the confirmation of the receipt of the host file wherein the indication is recorded in the host file database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Flexible systems and methods are disclosed that may be used for provisioning, configuring, and controlling a host embodied in a cable set top box or other digital device attached to a digital communication network, such as cable distribution network. An enhanced services system maintains various host files for various types of hosts that a cable subscriber may purchase and connect to the cable network. The Enhanced Services Server interacts with the host using the host files. The host files may be downloaded from the host manufacturer into a database that distributes the modules as required to the various enhanced services systems. The host may be purchased by the cable subscriber and provisioning may be initiated by the retailer at the time of purchase using a provisioning network interacting with the appropriate cable system serving the subscriber. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope of the claims.
70 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of downloading software for a host comprising a set top box on a cable distribution network, comprising:
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receiving a host file at a host file database, wherein the host file contains a message used by a cable service provider for configuring said host on said cable distribution network and wherein the host file is associated for use with a specific host manufacturer and a model of the specific host manufacturer; maintaining a first list in the host file database associating said at least one enhanced services system of said cable service provider with a destination address and the host file; maintaining a second list in the host file database associating said at least one enhanced services system of said cable service provider with a set of communication parameters, the set of communication parameters including authentication information; establishing a communications path between the host file database and the enhanced services system, the communications path using the destination address; authenticating the host file database to the enhanced services system using in part the set of communications parameters; transmitting the host file from the host file database to the enhanced services system; receiving a confirmation of the receipt of the host file from the enhanced services system; and recording an indication of the confirmation of the receipt of the host file wherein the indication is recorded in the host file database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification