Reprogrammable subscriber terminal

• US 7,240,217 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banker, Robert O., Lett, David B., Bacon, Kinney C., Harney, Michael P., Haman, R. Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZYMANSKI, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US10/891,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 713/193, 380/202, 380/211, 380/241, 380/242
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/4435 Memory management allocation of memory to service a request G06F9/5016; addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures G06F12/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/03 Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/06 Systems for the simultaneous transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by more than one carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• 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 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded. The boot program may download code to different configurations of subscriber terminals including those with Flash EPROM or extended memories from plug-in expansion modules.

Claims

1. A method that stores software code for a subscriber terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication through a transmission medium for storing the software code for the subscriber terminal;

downloading software code that includes at least a portion of control program code for the subscriber terminal;

storing the downloaded software code in a memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the stored downloaded software code that includes at least a portion of the control program code for the subscriber is executed by a control processor; and

replacing at least a portion of stored software code in memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the replacing of the stored software code includes replacing at least a portion of stored control program code for the subscriber terminal with the control program code of the stored downloaded software code;

wherein replacing at least the portion of the control program code for the subscriber terminal comprises comparing the stored downloaded software code with the stored software code; and

in response to a difference between the stored downloaded software code and the stored software code, storing at least a portion of the stored downloaded software code in place of at least a portion of the stored software code.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least a portion of updated control program code for the subscriber terminal.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, further comprising updating at least a portion of stored software code in memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the updating of the stored software code includes updating at least a portion of the stored control program code for the subscriber terminal with the updated control program code of the stored downloaded software code.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein establishing communication through a transmission medium comprises:

determining a selected set of subscriber terminals in a subscriber base for downloading the software code for the subscriber terminals;

communicating to the subscriber base information that allows each subscriber terminal in the subscriber base to determine if it is a member of the selected set; and

in response to receiving said information, determining, for each subscriber terminal, if it is a member of the selected set;

wherein downloading the software code includes downloading in response to the determination by a particular subscriber terminal that it is a member of the selected set.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the stored downloaded software code comprises updated program guide data.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the downloading of the software code comprises executing a download routine for downloading at least a portion of the software code.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least a portion of the download routine, wherein storing the software code comprises storing at least a portion of the download routine of the stored downloaded software code operative for downloading the software code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control program code of the stored downloaded software code includes at least one kernel routine associated with a particular model of subscriber terminals.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising:

storing in the memory a kernel identifier corresponding to the at least one kernel routine;

receiving kernel revision information via a subscription television system; and

comparing the kernel revision information with the stored kernel identifier.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein downloading the software code is responsive to determining that the kernel revision information corresponds to the kernel identifier.

11. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the kernel revision information is provided in a download parameters transaction provided via the subscription television system.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the memory a code identifier corresponding to a version of the control program code;

receiving code revision information via a subscription television system; and

comparing the code revision information with the stored code identifier.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein downloading the software code is responsive to determining that the code revision information corresponds to the stored code identifier.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the code revision information is provided in a download parameters transaction provided via the subscription television system.

15. A subscriber terminal that stores software code in a subscription television system, the subscriber terminal comprising:

a receiver/transmitter that facilitates downloading the software code in one of a plurality of channels;

a memory that stores software code and stores the downloaded software code including at least a portion of a control program for the subscriber terminal; and

a control processor that executes at least a portion of the stored downloaded software code in the memory along with the at least a portion of the control program for the subscriber terminal;

wherein the control processor replaces at least the portion of the control program for the subscriber terminal by comparing the stored downloaded software code with the stored software code; and

in response to a difference between the stored downloaded software code and the stored software code, stores at least a portion of the stored downloaded software code in place of at least a portion of the stored software code.

16. The terminal as defined in claim 15, further comprising the control processor replacing the at least a portion of stored software code in memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the replacing of the stored software code includes replacing at least a portion of stored control program code for the subscriber terminal with the control program code of the stored downloaded software code.

17. The terminal as defined in claim 16, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least a portion of updated control program for the subscriber terminal.

18. The terminal as defined in claim 17, further comprising the control processor updating at least a portion of stored software code in memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the updating of the stored software code includes updating at least a portion of stored control program code for the subscriber terminal with the updated control program code of the stored downloaded software code.

19. The terminal as defined in claim 15,

wherein the receiver/transmitter is operative for communicating to a subscriber base information to determine whether the subscriber terminal is a member of a selected set of subscriber terminals;

wherein the control processor determines whether the subscriber terminal is a member of the selected set in response to receipt of said information; and

wherein the receiver/transmitter facilitates downloading the software code from the television system in response to the determination that it is a member of the selected set.

20. The terminal as defined in claim 15, wherein the stored downloaded software code comprises updated program guide data.

21. The terminal as defined in claim 15, wherein the downloading the software code including the control microprocessor executing a download routine that facilitates downloading at least a portion of the software code.

22. The terminal as defined in claim 21, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least a portion of a download routine, wherein control microprocessor further stores at least portion of the download routine of the stored downloaded software code operative for downloading the software code.

23. The terminal as defined in claim 15, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least one kernel routine associated with a particular model of subscriber terminals.

24. The terminal as defined in claim 23, further comprising:

a kernel identifier corresponding to the kernel routine, the kernel identifier being stored in the memory.

25. The terminal as defined in claim 24, wherein the control processor is programmed to initiate downloading of the software code responsive to determining that kernel revision information received via the subscription television system corresponds to the kernel identifier.

26. The terminal as defined in claim 24, wherein the kernel revision information is provided in a download parameters transaction provided via the subscription television system.

27. The terminal as defined in claim 15, further comprising:

a code identifier corresponding to a version of the control program, the code identifier being stored in the memory.

28. The terminal as defined in claim 21, wherein the control processor is programmed to initiate downloading of the software code responsive to determining that code revision information received via the subscription television system corresponds to the code identifier.

29. The terminal as defined in claim 21, wherein the code revision information is provided in a download parameters transaction provided via the subscription television system.

30. A method for reprogramming a subscriber terminal of a subscription television system, the method comprising:

establishing communication through a transmission medium, the transmission medium configured to transmit software code for execution by the subscriber terminal of the subscription television system;

downloading software code from a headend of the subscription television system to the subscriber terminal via the transmission medium, the software code including at least a portion of control program code;

storing the downloaded software code in a memory of the subscriber terminal, wherein the stored downloaded software code is executed by a control processor of the subscriber terminal;

comparing the stored downloaded software code with previously stored software code; and

in response to a difference between the stored downloaded software code and the previously stored software code, replacing at least a portion of the previously stored software code with the control program code.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein establishing communication through a transmission medium comprises:

determining a selected set of subscriber terminals in a subscriber base for downloading the software code for the subscriber terminals;

transmitting information to the subscriber base allowing each subscriber terminal in the subscriber base to determine if it is a member of the selected set; and

in response to receiving the information, determining whether or not each subscriber terminal is a member of the selected set;

wherein downloading the software code includes downloading to the subscriber terminals that are determined to be members of the selected set.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the stored downloaded software code includes at least a portion of the download routine, wherein storing the software code comprises storing at least a portion of the download routine of the stored downloaded software code operative for downloading the software code.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the control program code of the stored downloaded software code includes at least one kernel routine associated with a particular model of subscriber terminals.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing in the memory a kernel identifier corresponding to the kernel routine;

receiving kernel revision information via the subscription television system; and

comparing the kernel revision information with the stored kernel identifier;

wherein downloading the software code is responsive to determining that the kernel revision information corresponds to the kernel identifier; and

wherein the kernel revision information is provided in a download parameters transaction provided via the subscription television system.