Functionally modifiable cable television converter system
First Claim
1. A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality comprising:
- means for receiving firmware downloaded from a cable television headend;
means coupled to said receiving means for storing said firmware;
means for verifying the integrity of said firmware;
processor means coupled to said storing means for accessing and executing said firmware to provide one or more converter functions dictated by the firmware;
nonvolatile memory means coupled to said processor means for storing default operation software for said converter; and
means responsive to said verifying means for causing said processor means to execute said default operation software instead of said firmware in the event the integrity of said firmware is not verified.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality receives firmware downloaded over a cable television network. The integrity of the firmware is verified, and if valid, the firmware is executed to provide one or more converter functions. If the firmware is invalid, default operation software contained in ROM is executed instead of the firmware to return the converter to baseline operation. In one embodiment, the converter includes a frequency agile data receiver to receive control instructions on a first data channel and firmware on a second data channel. The receiver is forced back to the first channel if a successful firmware download does not occur on the second channel within a predetermined time period. The firmware is continuously transmitted in short segments, and the converter can continue to receive segments until all the segments of a designated firmware package have been successfully downloaded, unless the predetermined time limit expires sooner.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality comprising:
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means for receiving firmware downloaded from a cable television headend; means coupled to said receiving means for storing said firmware; means for verifying the integrity of said firmware; processor means coupled to said storing means for accessing and executing said firmware to provide one or more converter functions dictated by the firmware; nonvolatile memory means coupled to said processor means for storing default operation software for said converter; and means responsive to said verifying means for causing said processor means to execute said default operation software instead of said firmware in the event the integrity of said firmware is not verified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality comprising:
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frequency agile data receiver means for receipt of addressable data from a cable television headend on a first channel and for receipt of firmware from said headend on a second channel; means for tuning said receiver means to switch to said second channel for receipt of firmware in response to instructions contained in addressable data received on said first channel; memory means for storing firmware received on said second channel; and processor means coupled to said memory means for accessing and executing firmware received from said headend to provide at least one converter function. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Cable television headend apparatus for downloading firmware to an addressable remotely modifiable cable television converter, comprising:
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means for transmitting addressable converter data on a first data channel of a cable television network; means for transmitting firmware on a second data channel of said cable television network; means for providing an address in said addressable converter data specific to a particular converter coupled to the network, said address enabling specific data to be received by said converter on said first data channel; and means for providing instructions in said specific data, said instructions causing said converter to switch to said second channel to receive firmware. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for providing a cable television converter with functions dictated by downloaded firmware, comprising the steps of:
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receiving converter control data from a remote headend location; capturing a designated firmware package, from a set of different firmware packages dictating various converter functions and transmitted from said remote headend location, in response to instructions contained in said converter control data; storing the designated firmware package in a memory provided in said converter; and executing said firmware to provide at least one converter function dictated thereby. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A remotely modifiable user terminal comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of cyclically transmitted firmware segments together comprising a firmware package; means coupled to said receiving means for verifying each segment upon receipt thereof; means responsive to said verifying means for storing each verified segment; means for determining if a complete firmware package has been stored in said storing means at the completion of a firmware transmission cycle; means responsive to said determining means for continuing to receive, verify, and store transmitted firmware segments during a subsequent firmware transmission cycle if said determining means finds that a complete firmware package has not been stored; and means for terminating the reception of firmware segments upon a finding by said determining means that a complete firmware package has been stored. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification