Methods and apparatus for hardware registration in a network device
First Claim
1. A server entity of a head-end portion of a content delivery network, said server entity comprising:
- a storage apparatus; and
a processor, said processor configured to run a software process thereon, said software process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed;
cause an application to be selectively downloaded to at least one client device, said application being configured to detect and access records within a hardware registry disposed on said at least one client device; and
utilize said application to enable said head-end server entity to control at least one hardware feature associated with said at least one client device via one or more software interfaces associated with middleware of said at least one client device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for control of a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved hardware registry is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to both identify and control available hardware resources. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having digital video recording (DVR) capability. An application downloaded to the device discovers the registry and software interfaces associated therewith, and then utilizes the interfaces to automatically control the requisite hardware capability. Improved client device, network and head end configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A server entity of a head-end portion of a content delivery network, said server entity comprising:
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a storage apparatus; and a processor, said processor configured to run a software process thereon, said software process comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed; cause an application to be selectively downloaded to at least one client device, said application being configured to detect and access records within a hardware registry disposed on said at least one client device; and utilize said application to enable said head-end server entity to control at least one hardware feature associated with said at least one client device via one or more software interfaces associated with middleware of said at least one client device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Non-transitory computer-readable media for use in a content delivery network, said media configured to store a computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions configured to be executed by a client device and which are configured to, when executed:
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detect and access records within a hardware registry disposed on said client device; and control at least one hardware feature associated with said device via one or more software interfaces associated with a middleware of said client device; wherein said computer program further comprises information embedded therein prior to a distribution thereof, said information enabling a remote entity to cause execution of said plurality of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A content delivery network, comprising:
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a plurality of client devices each having a respective plurality of controllable hardware feature associated therewith; a plurality of registries in operative communication with respective ones of said plurality of client devices, said registries each comprising information relating individual ones of said client devices to respective ones of said plurality of controllable hardware features; middleware running on respective ones of said plurality of client devices, said middleware configured to interface with a head-end application and with said at least one controllable hardware feature associated with said respective ones of said client devices; and a head-end server configured to run a software process thereon, said software process configured to download said head-end application to said client devices, and said head-end application configured to detect and access said information within said registries, and enable said headend server to control said respective ones of said plurality of controllable hardware features associated with each of said respective ones of said client devices via said middleware running thereon. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Fault-tolerant CPE configured to couple to a content delivery network, said CPE comprising:
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one or more hardware features; a storage apparatus; and a processor, said processor configured to run at least one monitor application thereon, said monitor application comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed; (i) detect a resource depletion event relating to operation of one or more software applications also running on said processor; (ii) selectively log data relating to said detected resource depletion event; (iii) provide a hardware registry accessible by said one or more software applications; and (iv) communicate with a headend entity of said content delivery network, said headend entity and said monitor application configured to cooperate to selectively access and control said at least one of said one or more hardware features of said CPE based at least in part on said data relating to said detected resource depletion event. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification