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Downloading operating system software through a broadcast channel

DC CAFC
  • US 5,666,293 A
  • Filed: 07/03/1995
  • Issued: 09/09/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A set-top terminal device comprising:

  • a network interface module adapted to couple the terminal to a communication network for receiving at least selected ones of a plurality of broadcast digital broadband channels at least one of which carries audio/video program information in compressed, digital form in packets of a standardized format and at least one of which carries cyclically repetitive transmissions of operating system software in packets of the standardized format, wherein said network interface module receives an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cell stream and extracts packets of the standardized format from payloads of ATM cells; and

    a digital entertainment terminal comprising;

    (a) an audio/video processor responsive to at least some of the packets extracted by the network interface module for processing the compressed, digital audio/video program information;

    (b) a memory;

    (c) means for receiving inputs from a user; and

    (d) a control processor controlling operations of the set-top terminal;

    wherein said control processor captures said operating system software from at least some of the packets extracted by the network interface module for one of the selected digital broadband channels within a transmission cycle, loads the captured operating system software into the memory and begins operation in accord with the operating system software loaded into the memory, said control processor controlling the network interface module and the audio/video processor in response to the user inputs in accord with the operating system software loaded in said memory.

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