Downloadable remotely stored device drivers for communication with set-top box peripherals

• US 7,765,280 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Akins, Glendon L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart; Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US10/289,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,820 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-226, 717168-178
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• 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 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system that downloads device drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device includes, among other things, a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to download a peripheral device driver to a media client device in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device.

Claims

1. A method for downloading device drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the request includes an identification of the media client device that includes at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, wherein the step of receiving a request includes receiving at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and peripheral device identification number; and

responsive to receiving the request, searching for the device driver among a plurality of device drivers stored at the remote server using at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number and downloading the device driver from the remote server to the media client device, wherein downloading the device driver includes scanning a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of storing the device driver and a plurality of other device drivers used for a plurality of peripheral devices of varying communication formats in a data structure at the remote server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of storing includes the step of indexing the plurality of device drivers by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of retrieving the device driver from the remote server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of downloading the device driver includes the step of downloading the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of downloading the device driver includes the step of downloading the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote server is located in at least one of a headend and a hub.

8. A method for downloading device drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the remote server is located in at least one of a headend and a hub, wherein the step of receiving a request includes the steps of receiving an identification of the media client device, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, and receiving at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and peripheral device identification number;

responsive to receiving the request, searching for the requested device driver in a data structure at the remote server, the data structure including a plurality of device drivers for a plurality of peripheral devices having various communication formats;

retrieving the requested device driver from the data structure; and

downloading the device driver from the remote server to the media client device, wherein downloading the device driver includes scanning a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of indexing the plurality of device drivers in the data structure by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of downloading the device driver includes the step of downloading the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of downloading the device driver includes the step of downloading the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the steps of searching includes the steps of searching for the device driver using at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number.

13. A method for downloading device drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of device drivers in a data structure at a remote server, the device drivers used for a plurality of peripheral devices of varying communication formats;

indexing the plurality of device drivers by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number;

receiving a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the step of receiving a request includes the steps of receiving an identification of the media client device, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, and receiving at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and peripheral device identification number;

responsive to receiving the request, searching for the device driver in the data structure using at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number of the peripheral device as an index;

retrieving the device driver from the data structure; and

downloading the device driver from the remote server to the media client device, wherein downloading the device driver includes scanning a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

14. A method for loading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an interfacing of a peripheral device, wherein the step of detecting includes receiving a peripheral device vendor identification and identification number from the peripheral device;

responsive to the detection, requesting a device driver associated with the peripheral device from a remote server, wherein the step of requesting includes sending at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number, wherein such request includes sending an identification of the media client device, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number; and

receiving a device driver associated with the peripheral device from the remote server, wherein receiving the device driver associated with the peripheral device includes scanning a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of receiving the device driver includes receiving the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal that uses at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of receiving the device driver includes receiving the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal that uses at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of receiving the device driver includes the steps of loading the device driver into memory and enabling the device driver to control the transfer of application related content between the media client device and the peripheral device.

18. A method for loading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an interfacing of a peripheral device, wherein the step of detecting includes receiving a peripheral device vendor identification and identification number from the peripheral device;

in response to the detection, requesting a device driver associated with the peripheral device from a remote server, wherein the step of requesting includes sending an identification of the media client device, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, and sending at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number; and

receiving the device driver associated with the peripheral device from the remote server, wherein the step of receiving the device driver includes the steps of scanning a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device, loading the device driver into memory and enabling the device driver to control the transfer of application related content between the media client device and the peripheral device.

19. A system for downloading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the request includes an identification of the media client device that includes at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the request, search for the device driver among a plurality of device drivers stored at the remote server using at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the request, download the device driver to the media client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scan a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to store the device driver and a plurality of other device drivers used for a plurality of peripheral devices of varying communication formats in a data structure.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to index the plurality of device drivers by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to retrieve the device driver from the remote server.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the memory, the logic, and the processor are located in the remote server, the remote server being located in at least one of a headend and a hub.

26. A system for downloading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive an identification of the media client device and at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to search for a device driver of a peripheral device using at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to retrieve the device driver of the at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the request, search for the requested device driver in a data structure at the remote server, the data structure including a plurality of device drivers for a plurality of peripheral devices having various communication formats, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to retrieve the requested device driver from the data structure, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver from the remote server to the media client device, and wherein the remote server is located in at least one of a headend and a hub, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scan a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to index the plurality of device drivers in the data structure by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal using at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the memory, the logic, and the processor are located in the remote server, the remote server being located in at least one of a headend and a hub.

31. A system for downloading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to store a plurality of device drivers in a data structure, the device drivers used for a plurality of peripheral devices of varying communication formats, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to index the plurality of device drivers by at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a request at a remote server from a media client device for a device driver in response to a peripheral device interfacing with the media client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive an identification of the media client device and at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the request, search for the device driver in the data structure using at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number of the peripheral device as an index, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to retrieve the device driver from the data structure, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to download the device driver to the media client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scan a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

32. A system for loading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive an indication at a media client device that a peripheral device is interfacing with the media client device and to send an identification of the media client device to a remote server, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, receive at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the indication, receive a device driver associated with the peripheral device from the remote server, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to search for the device driver among a plurality of device drivers stored at the remote server using the at least one of the peripheral device vendor identification and the peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scan a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a peripheral device vendor identification and identification number from the peripheral device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to send at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number to the remote server.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor configured with the logic to receive the device driver in packets transmitted in an out of band transmission signal that uses at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor configured with the logic to receive the device driver in packets transmitted in an in band transmission signal that uses at least one of a quadrature amplitude modulation and a quadrature phase shift keying modulation.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to load the device driver into memory and enable the device driver to control the transfer of application related content between the media client device and the peripheral device.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to request a device driver associated with the peripheral device from the remote server.

39. A system for loading drivers for peripheral devices to a media client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to receive an indication at a media client device that a peripheral device is interfacing with the media client device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive a peripheral device vendor identification and identification number from the peripheral device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to, responsive to receiving the indication, request a device driver associated with the peripheral device from a remote server, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to send an identification of the media client device, wherein the identification can include at least one of a media access control address and a secure micro serial number, and send at least one of a peripheral device vendor identification and a peripheral device identification number, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive the device driver associated with the peripheral device from the remote server, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to load the device driver into memory and enable the device driver to control the transfer of application related content between the media client device and the peripheral device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to scan a broadcast file system data stream for a compatible device driver, wherein the broadcast file system data stream comprises a table, the table comprising a plurality of device drivers, compatibility levels, and associated file names, wherein the table is transmitted on a periodic basis, wherein the table is used to locate the device driver for the peripheral device.