Reprogrammable subscriber terminal

• US 5,440,632 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banker, Robert O., Lett, David B., Bacon, Kinney C., Harney, Michael P., Haman, R. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US08/220,626
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 380/20, 455/186.1, 348/3, 348/12
• US Class Current: 380/242
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/4435 Memory management allocation of memory to service a request G06F9/5016; addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures G06F12/02
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/03 Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/06 Systems for the simultaneous transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by more than one carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded. The boot program may download code to different configurations of subscriber terminals including those with Flash EPROM or extended memories from plug-in expansion modules.

Claims

1. A method of downloading program code to modify the control program of a subscriber terminal of a subscription television system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a memory in the subscriber terminal;

storing in said memory a boot code program operative for downloading new program code for the control program of the subscriber terminal into said memory from a remote location, said control program operative for controlling predetermined features of the subscriber terminal;

providing over one of a plurality of channels of said subscription television system a download program code parameters transaction to the subscriber terminal, said download program code parameters transaction including information identifying a selected one of said plurality of channels on which said new program code will be transmitted;

activating said boot code program in response to a predetermined condition;

said boot code program operative for tuning the subscriber terminal to said selected one of said plurality of channels; and

storing said new program code in said memory.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a download program code parameters transaction to the subscriber terminal, said download program code parameters transaction including a destination in said memory for said new program code and a selected one of a plurality of channels on which said new program code will be transmitted.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said new program code is transmitted in a plurality of download program code transactions, and wherein said download program code parameters transactions identifies the number of said plurality of download program code transactions that are to be received by the subscriber terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said boot code program is operative for receiving download program code transactions and storing said new program code until all of said plurality of download program code transactions are received by the subscriber terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is individually addressed to a particular subscriber terminal.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is addressed to a group of subscriber terminals.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is globally addressed to all of the subscriber terminals in the subscription television system.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said new program code is globally transmitted.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said memory comprises a first memory for storing said boot code program and a second memory for storing program code for the subscriber terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said first memory is internal ROM of the subscriber terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said second memory is at least one of RAM, EPROM, and FLASH EPROM memory.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said second memory is FLASH EPROM and is divided into several pages.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said second memory has an internal portion and an external portion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said external portion of said second memory is provided by a plug-in expansion card.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition comprises initialization of the subscriber terminal.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition comprises detection of a failed memory checksum test.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined features comprise on-screen parameters.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined features comprise subscriber interfaces.

19. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal for a subscription television system which provides a plurality of information sources to the terminal, comprising:

means for providing over one of said plurality of information sources a download program code parameters transaction, said download code parameters transaction including information identifying a selected one of said plurality of information sources on which new program code will be transmitted;

a processor for controlling said providing means, said processor including a first memory which stores a boot program and a memory bus defining a memory space larger than said first memory;

a second memory connected to said memory bus which is defined in said memory space for storing said new program code for the control program of said processor, said control program operative for controlling predetermined features of the subscriber terminal; and

said processor under regulation of said boot program operative for causing said providing means to download said new program code from said selected one of said plurality of information sources into said second memory.

20. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19, wherein said selecting means comprises:

means for tuning to a television channel with downloadable information inserted in the vertical blanking interval said television channel.

21. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein said selecting means comprises:

means for tuning to a television channel with downloadable information inserted on the audio carrier of said television channel.

22. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said processor is a microprocessor contained on an integrated circuit and said first memory is a read only memory internal to the integrated circuit.

23. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said second memory is at least one of RAM, EPROM, and FLASH EPROM memory.

24. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said second memory has at least a portion which is non-volatile.

25. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said second memory is downloaded with program code which controls said processor.

26. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said second memory is Flash EPROM and is divided into several pages.

27. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 26 wherein:

said second memory has an internal portion and an external portion.

28. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal as set forth in claim 27 wherein:

said external portion of said second memory is provided by plug-in card.

29. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 19, wherein said boot program is executed in response to a predetermined condition.

30. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 29, wherein said predetermined condition comprises initialization of the subscriber terminal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said predetermined condition comprises detection of a failed memory checksum test.

32. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 19, wherein said information sources comprise channels in the subscription television system.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined features comprise on-screen parameters.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein said predetermined features comprise subscriber interfaces.

35. In a subscription television system having a plurality of channels in which signals are transmitted to subscriber terminals, a method of downloading program code to modify the control program of a subscriber terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

providing in the subscriber terminal a first memory and a second memory;

storing in said first memory a boot code program operative for downloading new program code for the subscriber terminal into said second memory;

activating said boot code program in response to a predetermined condition;

providing over one of said plurality of channels a download program code parameters transaction to the subscriber terminal, said download program code parameters transaction including a destination in said second memory for said new program code and a selected one of said plurality of channels on which said new program code will be transmitted; and

said boot code program operative for receiving said new program code in said selected one of said plurality of channels and storing said new program code in said second memory.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said new program code is transmitted in a plurality of download program code transactions, and wherein said download program code parameters transactions identifies the number of said plurality of download program code transactions that are to be received by the subscriber terminal.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said boot code program is operative for receiving download program code transactions and storing said new program code until all of said plurality of download program code transactions are received by the subscriber terminal.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is individually addressed to a particular subscriber terminal.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is addressed to a group of subscriber terminals.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is globally addressed to all of the subscriber terminals in the subscription television system.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein said new program code is globally transmitted.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein said first memory is internal ROM of the subscriber terminal.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein said second memory is at least one of RAM, EPROM, and FLASH EPROM memory.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein said second memory is FLASH EPROM and is divided into several pages.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said second memory has an internal portion and an external portion.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said external portion of said second memory is provided by a plug-in expansion card.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein said predetermined condition comprises initialization of the subscriber terminal.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein said predetermined condition comprises detection of a failed memory checksum test.

49. A reprogrammable subscriber terminal for a subscription television system having a plurality of channels in which signals are transmitted to subscriber terminals, said reprogrammable subscriber terminal comprising:

a tuner for tuning to one of a plurality of channels;

a control microprocessor;

a first memory and a second memory; and

a boot code program for said control microprocessor stored in said first memory executed in response to a predetermined condition,

said boot code program operative for;

receiving a download program code parameters transaction over one of said plurality of channels, said download program code parameters transaction including a destination in said second memory for new program code and a selected one of said plurality of channels on which said new program code will be transmitted;

tuning said tuner to said selected one of said plurality of channels identified in said download program code parameters transaction;

receiving said new program code in said selected one of said plurality of channels; and

storing said new program code in said second memory.

50. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said new program code is transmitted from the head end in a plurality of download program code transactions, and wherein said download program code parameters transactions identifies the number of said plurality of download program code transactions that are to be received by the subscriber terminal.

51. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 50, wherein said boot code program is operative for receiving download program code transactions and storing said new program code until all of said plurality of download program code transactions are received by the subscriber terminal.

52. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 50, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is individually addressed to a particular subscriber terminal.

53. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is addressed to a group of subscriber terminals.

54. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said download program code parameters transaction is globally addressed to all of the subscriber terminals in the subscription television system.

55. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said new program code is globally transmitted.

56. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said first memory is internal ROM of the subscriber terminal.

57. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said second memory is at least one of RAM, EPROM, and FLASH EPROM memory.

58. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said second memory is FLASH EPROM and is divided into several pages.

59. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 58, wherein said second memory has an internal portion and an external portion.

60. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 59, wherein said external portion of said second memory is provided by a plug-in expansion card.

61. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said predetermined condition comprises initialization of the subscriber terminal.

62. The reprogrammable subscriber terminal of claim 49, wherein said predetermined condition comprises detection of a failed memory checksum test.