Multicast downloading of software and data modules and their compatibility requirements

• US 5,951,639 A
• Filed: 02/14/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tech 5 SAS
• Original Assignee: Powertv Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: MacInnis, Alexander G.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/601,455
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 348/461, 348/463, 348/465, 348/467, 348/468, 348/473, 348/476-479, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/200.1, 395/200.16, 395/200.17, 395/200.18, 395/187.01, 395/200.01, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 364/514 R, 364/514 A, 364/514 B, 364/514 C
• US Class Current: 725/70
• 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 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/64 Retargetable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8402 involving a version number, e.g. version number of EPG data arrangements for version control in computers G06F8/71
• 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 7/17354 : in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A system for downloading different versions of software or data modules into a plurality of terminals having different compatibility interfaces includes an authoring component for generating the different module versions, a downloading source including a descriptor table which associates each module version with a list of compatibility requirements needed to download the module, and a plurality of terminals coupled to the downloading source. The downloading source transmits the descriptor table to each terminal and also continuously transmits the modules over the network. Each terminal extracts the descriptor table and, based on a match between an entry in the descriptor table and an internally stored table determines which version of a particular module should be downloaded. The system avoids the need for two-way communication between each terminal and the downloading source.

Claims

1. In a terminal of a cable television system, a method comprising determining which of a plurality of versions of a single multi-cast program to load from a network responsive to an amount of MPEG video decoder memory installed.

2. In a cable television system, a terminal configured to be coupled to a network comprising:

an MPEG decoder card having an amount of MPEG video decoder memory installed; and

a CPU card configured to determine the amount of MPEG video decoder memory installed and to select either a first version or a second enhanced version of a single multi-cast program which is the "best" version responsive to the amount of MPEG video decoder memory installed.

3. In a terminal of a cable television system, a method comprising determining which of a plurality of versions of a single multi-cast program to load from a network responsive to a size of a largest loadable block of available memory.

4. In a cable television system, a method comprising:

multicasting a first version of an application software program configured for operation in a first group of terminals having a first version of an operating system;

multicasting a second enhanced version of the application software program configured for operation in a second group of terminals having a second version of the operating system; and

loading a "best" version of the application software program into a terminal in accordance with an instruction in a table of compatibility requirements and an associated version of the operating system is the terminal, and wherein the "best" version is the second enhanced version whenever the associated version of the operating system is more recent that the second version of the operating system.