Dynamic Application Loader for Set Top Box

• US 20110055889A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,528,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/132
• 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 method for updating, selecting, and controlling software in a set top box in a cable system, comprising:

determining a deployment group identifier;

downloading a boot configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier;

identifying a process manager file using data in the boot configuration file;

downloading and executing the identified process manager file;

downloading a services configuration file; and

launching a user interface in accordance with the downloaded services configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a user interface version, further comprising downloading the boot configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier and the user interface version.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a location of the boot manager file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the services configuration file identifies features associated with the deployment group identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the services configuration file identifies feature dependencies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein downloading is performed using one or more of DOCSIS, TCP/IP, or MPEG video frame.

7. A system for provisioning a set top box in a cable system, comprising:

a network control system having a communication link to at least one set top box, the communication link to provide command/control and data to the at least one set top box;

a publication system to create configuration files to be used by applications executing on the set top box;

a memory configured to store the created configuration files;

wherein the system is configured to respond to a request having a deployment group identifier from a requesting set top box by sending a configuration file to the requesting set top box in accordance with the deployment group identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the configuration file is a boot configuration file that contains data identifying a user interface version, and the system is further configured to download a boot manager file corresponding to the deployment group identification and the user interface version

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the configuration file is a boot configuration file that contains data identifying a location of a boot manager file.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the configuration file is a services configuration file that identifies services associated with the deployment group identification.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the configuration file is a services configuration file that identifies service dependencies.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a DAVIC-based communication link for sending the request to the set top box.

13. The system of claim 7, further comprising a DOCSIS-based communication link for sending the request to the set top box.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the request is sent to the set top box in-band using an MPEG video stream.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the request is encapsulated in an MPEG video frame for sending to the set top box.

16. 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;

a CPU to execute an application to download from a head end of the cable system a configuration file to provision the set top box in accordance with a deployment group identifier.

17. The set top box of claim 16, further comprising a non-volatile RAM to store the deployment group identifier.

18. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the configuration file is a boot configuration file that contains data identifying a user interface version, and the CPU is further configured to download a boot manager file corresponding to the deployment group identification and the user interface version

19. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the configuration file is a boot configuration file that contains data identifying a location of a boot manager file.

20. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the configuration file is a services configuration file that identifies services associated with the deployment group identification.

21. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the configuration file is a services configuration file that identifies service dependencies.

22. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the deployment group identifier is stored in the non-volatile ram by a cable service provider.

23. The set top box of claim 16, wherein the deployment group identifier is sent to the set top box by a cable provider.

24. The set top box of claim 23, wherein the deployment group identifier is stored in a non-volatile RAM.