Systems and methods for distributing software for a host device in a cable system

• US 7,627,868 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Broadband, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: N2 Broadband, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Addington, Timothy, Lehrman, Ira
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phillip H
• Application Number:
  US10/712,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,211 Days
• Field of Search: 717/172, 717177-178
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Flexible systems and methods are disclosed that may be used for provisioning, configuring, and controlling a host embodied in a cable set top box or other digital device attached to a digital communication network, such as cable distribution network. An enhanced services system maintains various host files for various types of hosts that a cable subscriber may purchase and connect to the cable network. The Enhanced Services Server interacts with the host using the host files. The host files may be downloaded from the host manufacturer into a database that distributes the modules as required to the various enhanced services systems. The host may be purchased by the cable subscriber and provisioning may be initiated by the retailer at the time of purchase using a provisioning network interacting with the appropriate cable system serving the subscriber. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for distributing software comprising:

producing a host file by a host software manufacturer;

providing the host file from the host software manufacturer to a certification entity;

testing the operation of the host file by the certification entity;

certifying the host file for operation in a host wherein certifying the host file for operation in a host comprises certifying the host file is compatible with a host associated with a specific host manufacturer and a model associated with the specific host manufacturer;

establishing a first connection from a data processing system to a host file database wherein said host file include at least one of a host protocol file, host data file, host profile file, or host configuration message set file, wherein said host profile file indicates one of a plurality of resources incorporated in the host, wherein at least one of the resources processes digital video signals received by the host over a cable distribution system, wherein further the host profile file is used to create a user-interface in a configuration message set creation system used to create at least one host configuration message, wherein said at least one host configuration message is sent to a host;

transferring the host file from the data processing system to the host file database after the host file has been certified by the certification entity;

receiving confirmation of receipt of the host software file from the host file database;

identifying an enhanced services system to receive the host software file;

establishing a second connection from the host file database to the enhanced services system; and

transferring the host file from the host file database to the enhanced services system.

2. A method of downloading software, comprising:

producing host software by a host software manufacturer to control a host;

providing the host software to a certification entity;

receiving a certification indication from the certification entity indicating the host software is compatible with the host;

establishing a connection from a first data processing system operated either by the host software manufacturer or the certification entity to a second data processing system, the second data processing system comprising a database for storing host software to be downloaded to a host;

authenticating the first data processing system to the second the data processing system;

transferring a copy of the host software comprising a host protocol file and a host profile file to the second data processing system after the certification entity has certified the host software;

receiving a confirmation indication from the second data processing system of the receipt of the host software;

identifying one of a plurality of an enhanced services system to receive the host software;

establishing a connection from the second data processing system to the one of the plurality of enhanced services system; and

transferring the host software to the one of a plurality of enhanced services systems.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the host protocol file comprises at least one host specific protocol message used by an enhanced services server to interact with the host.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the host profile file indicates a host type comprising a specific host manufacturer and a model associated with the specific host manufacturer.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the host protocol file contains a version number associated with the host protocol file.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the certification indication includes an identification associated with the host, the identification further associated with a specific host manufacturer and a model of the specific host manufacturer.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the host file database records a date and time of receipt of the host software, the certification indication, and the confirmation indication.

8. The method of claim 2 where the host software file contains software objects capable of being executed in a consumer electronics host wherein the consumer electronics host processes digital multi-media signals.

9. The method of claim 2 where the step of transferring the host software to the one of a plurality enhanced services system further includes transferring a copy of the certification indication.