System and method for scheduled delivery of a software program over a cable network

• US 5,935,004 A
• Filed: 08/28/1995
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation), U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Stevens, J. Clarke, Lutz, Jeffrey C., Tarr, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/520,663
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/42, 463/40, 463/41, 273/439, 348/6-20, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/16 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/09 Arrangements for receiving desired information automatically according to timetables
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6583 Acknowledgement
• 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 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a software program over a cable network includes a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of software programs and transmit the compressed software programs over the cable network at a plurality of corresponding predetermined scheduled times. A primary processor in communication with the cable network receives a selected one of the plurality of software programs at the corresponding predetermined scheduled time, decompresses the program and stores it. A secondary processor in communication with the primary processor includes navigational software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the software program from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a software program over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising:

a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of software programs and transmit the compressed software programs over the cable network at a plurality of corresponding predetermined scheduled times;

a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of software programs at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and storing the selected software program until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received; and

a secondary processor in communication with the primary processor, the secondary processor including navigational software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the software program from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary processor comprises a low end processing chip, a motherboard, a cable modem, and a hard disk.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary processor comprises a game machine which includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a game player.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary processor includes a CD-ROM drive operative to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software and drivers.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a display monitor in communication with the CPU.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising a television set in communication with the CPU.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the head-end server is operative to transmit broadcast data for receipt by the primary processor, the broadcast data corresponding to a predetermined scheduled time the software program is available to be received.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the secondary processor further includes executable code and art for converting the broadcast data to graphic data for display on a television or monitor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the secondary processor includes a CD-ROM drive operative to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the operating software, drivers, executable code and art.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the head-end server includes encryption means to encode the software program before transmission and the secondary processor includes decryption means to decode the transmitted software program upon receipt.

11. A system for delivering a video game over a cable network to a subscriber, comprising:

a head-end server operative to compress a plurality of video games and transmit the compressed video games over the cable network at corresponding predetermined scheduled times;

a primary processor in communication with the cable network for receiving a selected one of said plurality of video games at said corresponding predetermined scheduled time and decompressing and temporarily storing the selected video game until a second selected one of said plurality of software programs is transmitted and received;

a monitor; and

a video game machine in communication with the primary processor and the monitor, the video game machine including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a game player containing operating software and drivers to enable the primary processor to select and receive the video game from the cable network without upstream communication to the head-end server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the head-end server is operative to transmit broadcast data for receipt by the primary processor, the broadcast data corresponding to a time the video game is available to be received.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the game player further includes executable code and art for converting the broadcast data to graphic data for display on the video monitor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the game player includes a CD-ROM drive adapted to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software and drivers.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the game player includes a CD-ROM drive adapted to play a start-up CD-ROM containing the navigational software, drivers, executable code and art.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the head-end server includes encryption means to encode the software program before transmission and the game player includes decryption means to decode the transmitted software program upon receipt.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the monitor is a television.