Multiple run-time execution environment support in a set-top processor

• US 5,797,010 A
• Filed: 12/22/1995
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brown, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kriess, Kevin A.
• Application Number:
  US08/577,210
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention is a novel system and method for supporting the execution of applications of a full service network whereby each application is designed and compiled to execute in a particular execution environment. As the user/subscriber makes a request for a service, the head end accepts the request as one for the downloading of the application associated with the service. The head end downloads the execution environment associated with the particular application. The execution environment is stored in memory at the requesting set-top processor. The application is also downloaded from the head end server to the requesting set-top processor and stored at the set-top processor. The set-top then executes the environment and the application in turn.

Claims

1. In a network providing data-services to subscribers, said network including a head-end having servers for receiving requests for data-services from subscribers, and said network including memory for storing data-services, for storing applications related to data-services and for storing execution-environments that are designed and compiled to enable execution of applications, said head-end being coupled to a plurality of set-tops that are resident at subscriber locations, a method for supporting execution of applications by processors that are within said set-tops, comprising the steps of:

sending a request for data-service from a given set-top to said head-end;

accepting said data-service request at said head-end;

downloading from said head-end to said given set-top execution-environments designed and compiled to enable processor-execution of applications;

accepting and storing said downloaded execution-environment at said given set-top;

downloading from said head-end to said given set-top applications;

accepting and storing said downloaded applications at said given set-top; and

utilizing a processor within said given set-top to execute said stored applications by the use of said stored execution-environment.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of downloading said execution-environment further comprises downloading said execution-environment at the same time that a subscriber associated with said given set-top processor is receiving service from said head-end.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said service is analog television programming.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said service is a digital service.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of downloading said execution-environment is accomplished by tuning a plurality of channels of said given set-top processor, wherein one channel receives said service and another channel receives said execution-environment.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said step of downloading said execution-environment is accomplished by tuning said given set-top processor to a physical channel, said physical channel comprising a virtual channel.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said physical channel is an analog television channel and said virtual channel is a vertical blanking interval of said analog television channel.