Method and system of identifying software and firmware objects available for download over a network such as a cable television system
First Claim
1. A method of advising a subscriber to a bidirectional cable television network of executable programming for a set-top terminal that may be purchased over the bidirectional cable television network to upgrade or enhance features provided by that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal and for providing such executable programming selected by said subscriber to that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal, the method comprising:
- transmitting a message to said set-top terminal over a bidirectional cable line that provides a directory of programming available for purchase via an upstream communication on said bidirectional cable line and download over said bidirectional cable line associated with said cable television network, said directory listing available programming objects that are configured to be installed and executed by a set-top terminal to enhance functionality of that set-top terminal, said message further including a fee charged for downloading each listed programming object,wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-message with an out of band network message and the message identifies a location of the programming objects and entitlement control data structures corresponding to the programming objects, andwherein the entitlement control data structures are transmitted separately from the programming objects,whereby the set top terminal utilizes the entitlement control data structures to verify that an appropriate code object has been received without alteration.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This method and system allow a subscriber to a cable television service to receiving a listing or menu of programming available for that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal to upgrade or enhance the features available over the cable system. A Directory of Services (DoS) message is transmitted over the cable system to the subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal. The terminal can then display for the subscriber the menu of programming available. This display may include a price for downloading each programming object. The subscriber can then, using a remote control unit or a user input device on the terminal, direct the set-top terminal to acquire a listed programming object. The DoS message will provide information enabling the set-top terminal to download the indicated programming object from the cable system in response to the subscriber'"'"'s input. The subscriber can then have immediate access to upgraded or enhanced programming, the purchase of which is billed to the subscriber'"'"'s account.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method of advising a subscriber to a bidirectional cable television network of executable programming for a set-top terminal that may be purchased over the bidirectional cable television network to upgrade or enhance features provided by that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal and for providing such executable programming selected by said subscriber to that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a message to said set-top terminal over a bidirectional cable line that provides a directory of programming available for purchase via an upstream communication on said bidirectional cable line and download over said bidirectional cable line associated with said cable television network, said directory listing available programming objects that are configured to be installed and executed by a set-top terminal to enhance functionality of that set-top terminal, said message further including a fee charged for downloading each listed programming object, wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-message with an out of band network message and the message identifies a location of the programming objects and entitlement control data structures corresponding to the programming objects, and wherein the entitlement control data structures are transmitted separately from the programming objects, whereby the set top terminal utilizes the entitlement control data structures to verify that an appropriate code object has been received without alteration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 27)
-
-
18. A system for advising a subscriber to a bidirectional cable television network of programming that may be purchased over the bidirectional cable television network to upgrade or enhance features provided by that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal and for providing such programming selected by said subscriber to that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal over a bidirectional cable line, the system comprising:
-
a headend facility from which a cable television signal and data objects are transmitted to a population of set-top terminals over said bidirectional cable line associated with said cable television network; and a transmitter of said headend facility for transmitting a message to said set-top terminals over said bidirectional cable line, wherein said message provides a directory of programming available for purchase via an upstream communication on said bidirectional cable line and download over said bidirectional cable line associated with said cable television network, said directory listing available programming objects that are configured to be installed and executed by a set-top terminal to enhance functionality of that set-top terminal, said message further including a fee charged for downloading each listed programming object, wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-message with an out of band network message and the message identifies a location of the programming objects and entitlement control data structures corresponding to the programming objects, and wherein the entitlement control data structures are transmitted separately from the programming objects, whereby the set top terminal utilizes the entitlement control data structures to verify that an appropriate code object has been received without alteration. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
28. A method of advising a subscriber to a bidirectional cable television network of programming objects that may be purchased over the bidirectional cable television network to upgrade or enhance features provided by that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal and for providing programming objects selected by said subscriber to that subscriber'"'"'s set-top terminal, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a message to said set-top terminal over a bidirectional cable line that provides a directory of programming objects available for purchase via an upstream communication on said bidirectional cable line and download over said bidirectional cable line associated with said cable television network; and including in said message a message version number that is incremented each time a change is made to said directory of programming objects in said message, wherein the message is transmitted in a sub-message with an out of band network message and the message identifies a location of the programming objects and entitlement control data structures corresponding to the programming objects, and wherein the entitlement control data structures are transmitted separately from the programming objects, whereby the set top terminal utilizes the entitlement control data structures to verify that an appropriate-code object has been received without alteration. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification