Dynamic application loader for set top box

• US 9,027,072 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• 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): Le, Rong
• Application Number:
  US13/612,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 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 applications in a set top box in a cable system, comprising:

determining a deployment group identifier of the set top box;

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 that identifies the applications configured to execute on the set top box;

downloading a services configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier, wherein the services configuration file identifies features available on the set top box; and

launching a user interface for the identified applications in accordance with the features available in the downloaded services configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a user interface version, and 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 associated with the deployment group identifier.

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

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the deployment group identifier, wherein the updated deployment group identifier enables the set top box to launch a user interface for accessing a different set of applications configured to execute on the set top box.

8. A system for updating, selecting, and controlling applications in a cable system, comprising:

a set top box configured to;

determine a deployment group identifier of the set top box;

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

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

download and execute the identified process manager file that identifies the applications configured to execute on the set top box;

download a services configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier, wherein the services configuration file identifies features available on the set top box; and

launch a user interface for the identified applications in accordance with the features available in the downloaded services configuration file.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a user interface version;

and

the set top box is further configured to download the boot configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier and the user interface version.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a location of the boot manager file.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the services configuration file identifies features associated with the deployment group identifier.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the services configuration file identifies feature dependencies associated with the deployment group identifier.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein downloading is performed using one or more of DOCSIS, TCP/IP, or MPEG video frames.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box is further configured to update the deployment group identifier, wherein the updated deployment group identifier enables the set top box to launch a user interface for accessing a different set of applications configured to execute on the set top box.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions cause a computing device to perform operations for updating, selecting, and controlling applications in a set top box in a cable system, the operations comprising:

determining a deployment group identifier of the set top box;

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 that identifies the applications configured to execute on the set top box;

downloading a services configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier, wherein the services configuration file identifies features available on the set top box; and

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

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a user interface version, and the instructions further comprise operations comprising:

downloading the boot configuration file corresponding to the deployment group identifier and the user interface version.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the boot configuration file contains data identifying a location of the boot manager file.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the services configuration file identifies features associated with the deployment group identifier.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the services configuration file identifies feature dependencies associated with the deployment group identifier.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein downloading is performed using one or more of DOCSIS, TCP/IP, or MPEG video frames.