Method and apparatus for remote update of clients by a server via broadcast satellite

• US 6,614,804 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, Wei, Blackketter, Dean J., Bishop, Alan G., Wagner, Mark, Killianey, Michael A., McFadden, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/273,697
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/315, 370/316, 370/321, 370/326, 370/327, 370/328, 370/329, 370/390, 370/392, 370/432, 710/19, 710/20, 710/21, 709/104, 709/226, 709/232, 709/238, 709/242, 709/246, 709/102, 709/203, 709/208, 709/201, 717/4, 717/11
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/40 Arrangements for broadcast specially adapted for accumulation-type receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42661 for reading from or writing on a magnetic storage medium, e.g. hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• 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 21/818 OS software

Abstract

The invention involves transmission download of data to plural, mass storage medium-based remote users of content or software upgrades or multiple versions. Optionally provided are pre-download scheduling of one or more future download sessions and post-download remote scripted software execution by the remote clients. For purposes of more efficient use of the transmission link, low-volume scheduling information or content are transmitted within designated narrow-bandwidth sub-channels or trickle streams allocated within the broad bandwidth of the transmission channel and such allocation may be dynamic to vary the allocation based upon relative high-volume, high-speed and low-volume, low-speed demands. The invention is implemented in software residing primarily in the server computer connected with the transmission provider. The software schedules allotted bandwidth within the broadcast band of the transmission link and formats high-volume data for transmission within sub-allocation channels logically devised therein. Client software at the plural distributed home entertainment device sites reserves capacity on disk and receives such transmission data for storage thereon, optionally executing a downloaded execution script that may reconfigure the client software so that new options and features are available at the client site for operational enhancements as well as video program or content enhancements. Client software at the plural distributed home entertainment device sites reserves capacity on disk and receives such broadcast data for storage thereon, optionally executing a downloaded execution script that may reconfigure the client software.

Claims

1. In a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the method comprising:

at a client system, receiving from the broadcast service provider scheduling information including a scheduled time for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems wherein the scheduling information is generated at the server system and communicated to the broadcast service provider prior to being sent to the client system; and

at client system, receiving at the scheduled time, updated information that is being broadcast on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider, wherein the server system allocates the use of the relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel and communicates the updated information to the broadcast service provider upon formatting and allocating the updated information for high bandwidth data communication, and wherein the broadcast service provider broadcasts the updated information on the relatively high bandwidth communication channel to the client system at the scheduled time.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 or claim 2, further including an act of writing the updating information to memory at at least one of the client systems.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updating information updates information previously stored by the at least one client system.

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated information includes computer program instructions which, when executed by the at least one client system, causes the at least one client system to perform a sequence of actions.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one client system selectively executes the computer program instructions.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one client system only executes the computer program instructions when a defined set of criteria are satisfied.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the updating information further includes the defined set of criteria.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer program instructions include at least one configuration script.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one configuration script includes alternative configuration scripts which represent alternative versions of operating system software for the client systems.

11. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated inflation is written to non-volatile memory.

12. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated information is written to non-volatile memory.

13. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated information is written to programmable read-only memory.

14. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated information is written to flash memory.

15. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the updated information is written to a data storage disk.

16. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the scheduling information is received independent of any input from a user of the client systems.

2. A computer program product for use in a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, the computer program product being configured to implement a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the computer program product comprising:

computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method including the acts of;

at a client system, receiving from the broadcast service provider scheduling information including a scheduled time for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems, wherein the scheduling information is generated at the server system and communicated to the broadcast service provider prior to being sent to the client system; and

at a client system, receiving at the scheduled time, updated information that is being broadcast on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider, wherein the server system allocates the use of the relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel and communicates the updated information to the broadcast service provider upon formatting and allocating the updated information for high bandwidth data communication, and wherein the broadcast service provider broadcasts the updated information on the relatively high bandwidth communication channel to the client system at the schedule time.

17. In a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the method comprising:

at the server system, generating scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the scheduling information from the server system to the broadcast service provider wherein the scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems is received at the client systems from the broadcast service provider;

at the server system, formatting the updated information that is to be downloaded to the client systems;

at the server system, allocating the use of relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider for downloading tie updated information;

communicating the updated information, as formatted and allocated for high bandwidth data communication, from the server system to the broadcast service provider; and

;

at the broadcast service provider, broadcasting at the scheduled time the updated information on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel to the plurality of client systems, wherein the client systems receive at the scheduled time, the updated information that is being broadcast one the relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 or claim 18, further including an act of writing the updating information to memory at at least one of the client systems.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the updating information updates information previously stored by the at least one client system.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the updated information includes computer program instructions which, when executed by the at least one client system, causes the at least one client system to perform a sequence of actions.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the computer program instructions include at least one configuration script.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the at least one configuration script includes alternative configuration scripts which represent alternative versions of operating system software for the client systems.

24. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the scheduling information is received independent of any input from a user of the client systems.

25. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider is characterized by a defined bandwidth, and wherein the method farther comprises an act of allocating, at the server, such defined bandwidth in a defined manner between the updated information and the scheduling information to provide relatively high bandwidth to said updating information and relatively low bandwidth to said scheduling information.

18. A computer program product for use in a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, the computer program product being configured to implement a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high banwdwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the computer program product comprising:

computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method including the acts of;

at the server system, generating scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the scheduling information from the server system to the broadcast service provider, wherein the scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems is received at the client systems from the broadcast service provider;

at the server system, formatting the updated information that is to be downloaded to the client systems;

at the server system, allocating the use of relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider for downloading the updated information;

communicating the updated information, as formatted and allocated for high bandwidth data communication, from the server system to the broadcast service provider; and

at the broadcast service provider, broadcasting at the scheduled time the updated information on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel to the plurality of client systems wherein the client systems receive, at the scheduled time, the updated information that is being broadcast one the relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider.

26. In a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the method comprising:

at the server system, generating scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the scheduling information from the server system to the broadcast service provider;

at the server system, formatting the updated information that is to be downloaded to the client systems;

at the server system, allocating the use of relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider for downloading the updated information;

at the client systems, receiving from the broadcast service provider scheduling information provided by the server system for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the updated information, as formatted and allocated for high bandwidth data communication, from the server system to the broadcast service provider;

at the broadcast service provider, broadcasting at the scheduled time the updated information on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel to the plurality of client systems; and

at the client systems, receiving at the scheduled time, updated information that is being broadcast on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider, updated information provided by the server system to the broadcast service provider.

28. A method as recited in claim 26 or claim 27, further including an act of writing the updating information to memory at at least one of the client systems.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the updating information updates information previously stored by the at least one client system.

30. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the updated information includes computer program instructions which, when executed by the at least one client system, causes the at least one client system to perform a sequence of actions.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein the computer program instructions include at least one configuration script.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the at least one configuration script includes alternative configuration scripts which represent alternative versions of operating system software for the client systems.

33. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the scheduling information is received independent of any input from a user of the client systems.

34. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider is characterized by a defined bandwidth, and wherein the method further comprises an act of allocating, at the server, such defined bandwidth in a defined manner between the updated information and the scheduling information to provide relatively high bandwidth to said updating information and relatively low bandwidth to said scheduling information.

27. A computer program product for use in a system that includes a server system and broadcast service provider comprised of at least one of a satellite broadcast service and a cable network, and a plurality of client systems coupled to the server system and the broadcast service provider, the computer program product being configured to implement a method of updating information at the plurality of client systems by using relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider to download the updated information in order to reduce the need for using relatively low bandwidth, two-way data communication capability used when connecting to the server system, the computer program product comprising:

computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method, the method including the acts of;

at the server system, generating scheduling information for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the scheduling information from the server system to the broadcast service provider;

at the server system, formatting the updated information that is to be downloaded to the client systems;

at the server system, allocating the use of relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication capability of the broadcast service provider for downloading the updated information;

at the client systems, receiving from the broadcast service provider scheduling information provided by the server system for when updated information is to be transmitted to the client systems;

communicating the updated information, as formatted and allocated for high bandwidth data communication, from the server system to the broadcast service provider;

at the broadcast service provider, broadcasting at the scheduled time the updated information on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way communication channel to the plurality of client systems; and

at the client systems, receiving at the scheduled time, updated information that is being broadcast on a relatively high bandwidth, one-way data communication channel of the broadcast service provider, updated information provided by the server system to the broadcast service provider.