Dynamic application loader for set top box

• US 9,100,695 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neill, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US13/612,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 725/116, 725/120, 725/134
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25858 involving client software characteristics, e.g. OS identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/4586 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• 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

Abstract

Set top boxes (STBs) in a cable system are configured on a box-by-box basis to facilitate beta and trial testing of new or updated services. STBs are assigned to deployment groups identified by a deployment group identifier. Features configurations including hierarchies of features can be defined individually for different deployment groups. Configuration files for provisioning the STBs are provided by a cable system head end according to the deployment group the STB is assigned to. STBs can be configured at the time they boot and register with the system or in a “hot” manner to avoid rebooting.

Claims

1. A set top box, comprising:

a port to input a cable signal;

a video processor to process the cable signal and to extract encapsulated data therefrom; and

a CPU to execute an application to;

download from a head end of a cable system a first configuration file to provision the set top box which is associated with a first deployment group identifier, wherein the first deployment group identifier determines a first content of the encapsulated data and is associated with a first subset of set top boxes that share a common characteristic; and

download from the head end a second configuration file to provision the set top box that is associated with the first subset of set top boxes in accordance with a second deployment group identifier, wherein the second configuration file and the second deployment group identifier cause the set top box that is associated with the first subset of set to boxes to switch from the first subset of set top boxes to a second subset of set top boxes that share the common characteristic, wherein the switching is done by replacing the first deployment group identifier assigned to the set to box with the second deployment group identifier, and wherein the first configuration file and the second configuration file are services configuration files that identify services associated with the respective first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier.

2. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile RAM to store the first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier.

3. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a third configuration file associated with the first deployment group identifier and a fourth configuration file associated with the second deployment group identifier, wherein the third configuration file and the fourth configuration file are boot configuration files that include data identifying respective user interface versions, and the CPU is further configured to download respective boot manager files corresponding to the first deployment group identifier or the second deployment group identifier and the respective user interface versions.

4. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a third configuration file associated with the first deployment group identifier and a fourth configuration file associated with the second deployment group identifier wherein the third configuration file and the fourth configuration file are boot configuration files that include data identifying a location of respective boot manager files.

5. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the first configuration file and the second configuration file identify respective service dependencies.

6. The set top box of claim 1, further configured to receive the first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier for the set top box from a cable provider.

7. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the second configuration file is configured to provision the set top box in accordance with second deployment group identifier, and wherein the second deployment group identifier determines second content of the encapsulated data and is associated with the second subset of the set top boxes that share the common characteristic.

8. The set top box of claim 7, wherein the set top box switches from the first subset of set top boxes to the second subset of set top boxes while the application continues to execute and the CPU causes the set top box to process the second content instead of the first content.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving a cable signal;

extracting encapsulated data from the cable signal;

executing an application to download from a head end of a cable system a first configuration file to provision a set top box which is associated with a first deployment group identifier, wherein the first deployment group identifier determines content of the encapsulated data and is associated with a first subset of set top boxes that share a common characteristic; and

executing the application to download from the head end a second configuration file to provision the set top box that is associated with the first subset of set to boxes in accordance with a second deployment group identifier, wherein the second configuration file and the second deployment group identifier cause the set top box that is associated with the first subset of set to boxes to switch from the first subset of set top boxes to a second subset of set top boxes that share the common characteristic, wherein the switching is done by replacing the first deployment group identifier assigned to the set top box with the second deployment group identifier, and wherein the first configuration file and the second configuration file are services configuration files that identify services associated with the respective first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing the first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising downloading a third configuration file associated with the first deployment group identifier and a fourth configuration file associated with the second deployment group identifier, wherein the third configuration file and the forth configuration files are boot configuration files that include data identifying respective user interface versions, and further comprising downloading boot manager files corresponding to the first deployment group identifier, the second deployment group identifier, and the respective user interface versions.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising downloading a third configuration file associated with the first deployment group identifier and a fourth configuration file associated with the second deployment group identifier wherein the third configuration file and the forth configuration files are boot configuration files that include data identifying a location of respective boot manager files.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first configuration file and the second configuration file identify service dependencies.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second configuration file is configured to provision the set top box in accordance with the second deployment group identifier, and wherein the second deployment group identifier determines second content of the encapsulated data and is associated with the second subset of the set top boxes that share the common characteristic.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

switching the set top box from the first subset of set top boxes to the second subset of set top boxes while the application continues to execute; and

causing the set top box to process the second content instead of the first content.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier for the set top box from a cable provider.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions cause a computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a cable signal;

extracting encapsulated data from the cable signal; and

executing an application to download from a head end of a cable system a first configuration file to provision a set top box which is associated with a first deployment group identifier, wherein the first deployment group identifier determines a first content of the encapsulated data and is associated with a first subset of set top boxes that share a common characteristic; and

executing the application to download from the head end a second deployment group identifier and a second configuration file that causes the set top box that is associated with the first subset of set to boxes to switch from the first subset of set top boxes to a second subset of set top boxes that share the common characteristic, wherein the switching is done by replacing the first deployment group identifier assigned to the set to box with the second deployment group identifier, and wherein the first configuration file and the second configuration file are services configuration files that identify services associated with the respective first deployment group identifier and the second deployment group identifier.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising downloading a third configuration file associated with the first deployment group identifier and a fourth configuration file associated with the second deployment group identifier wherein the third configuration file and the fourth configuration file are boot configuration files that include data identifying respective user interface versions, and wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to perform operations comprising downloading boot manager files corresponding to the first deployment group identifier, the second deployment group identifier and the respective user interface versions.