System and Method for Distributing Software Updates

• US 20100153943A1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chase, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,740,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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

A system includes a control server, a data package server, a home storage device, and a set-top box. The control server is configured to provide information related to a data package. The data package server is configured to provide the data package. The home storage device is configured to receive the data package as a multicast from the data package server. Additionally, the home storage device is configured to store the data package in a storage. The set-top box is configured to receive information related to the data package from the control server and retrieve the data package from the home storage device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control server configured to provide information related to a software update;

a software update server configured to provide the software update;

a home storage device configured to;

receive the software update as a multicast from the software update server; and

store the software update in a storage; and

a set-top box;

configured to;

receive the information related to the software update from the control server; and

retrieve the software update from the home storage device through an internal network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the set-top box is further configured to determine if the software update is newer than a current version of the software.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the set-top box and the home storage device share a residential gateway.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the home storage device is a digital video recorder.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the software update is provided through a multicast session over an Internet Protocol Television network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the internal network includes an Ethernet network, a wireless network, or any combination thereof.

7. A set-top box comprising a processor configured to:

receive information related to a software update from a server;

send a request to a home storage device to determine if the software update is available from the home storage device;

receive the software update from the home storage device when the software update is available from the home storage device; and

receive the software update from a software update server when the software update is not available from the home storage device.

8. The set-top box of claim 7 wherein the set-top box and the home storage device share a residential gateway.

9. The set-top box of claim 7 wherein the home storage device is a digital video recorder.

10. The set-top box of claim 7 wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the software update is newer than a current version of the software.

11. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a software update from a server through a multicast session;

instructions to store the software update in a storage;

instructions to receive a request for a software update from a set-top box through an internal network;

instructions to determine if the software update is stored in the storage;

instructions to provide the software update to the set-top box when the software update is stored in memory; and

instructions to notify the set-top box that the software update is not available when the software update is not stored in the storage.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the home storage device is a digital video recorder.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the internal network includes an Ethernet network, a wireless network, or any combination thereof.

14. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to receive an encrypted video stream;

instructions to send a request to a home storage device to determine if an encryption key is available from the home storage device;

instructions to receive the encryption key from the home storage device through an internal network when the encryption key is available from the home storage device;

instructions to receive the encryption key from an encryption key server when the encryption key is not available from the home storage device; and

instructions to decrypt the encrypted video stream using the encryption key.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the multicast session is through an Internet Protocol Television network.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the home storage device is a digital video recorder.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions to determine a permission to access the encrypted video stream.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the internal network includes an Ethernet network, a wireless network, or any combination thereof.

19. A home storage device comprising:

a storage; and

a processor configured to;

receive an encryption key from a server through a multicast session;

store the encryption key in the storage;

receive a request for the encryption key from a set-top box;

determine if the encryption key is stored in the storage;

provide the encryption key to the set-top box when the encryption key is stored in memory; and

notify the set-top box that the encryption key is not available when the encryption key is not stored in the storage.

20. The home storage device of claim 19 wherein the set-top box and the home storage device share a residential gateway.

21. The home storage device of claim 19 wherein the home storage device is a digital video recorder.

22. The home storage device of claim 19 wherein the multicast session is over an Internet Protocol Television network.