EP0732850A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Functionally modifiable cable television converter system
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
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Filing: 1990-04-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality receives firmware downloaded over a cable television network. The integrity of the firmware is verified, and if valid, the firmware is executed to provide one or more converter functions. If the firmware is invalid, default operation software contained in ROM is executed instead of the firmware to return the converter to baseline operation. In one embodiment, the converter includes a frequency agile data receiver to receive control instructions on a first data channel and firmware on a second data channel. The receiver is forced back to the first channel if a successful firmware download does not occur on the second channel within a predetermined time period. The firmware is continuously transmitted in short segments, and the converter can continue to receive segments until all the segments of a designated firmware package have been successfully downloaded, unless the predetermined time limit expires sooner.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc W. Kauffman
- 👤 Michael R. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/4348; H04N21/4349; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2543; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/435; H04N21/438; H04N21/4383; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/4424; H04N21/45; H04N21/458; H04N21/4586; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/8166; H04N21/818; H04N21/83; H04N21/845; H04N21/8456; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A cable television converter with remotely modifiable functionality comprising: frequency agile data receiver means for receipt of addressable data from a cable television headend on a first channel and for receipt of firmware from said headend on a second channel; means for tuning said receiver means to said second channel for receipt of firmware in response to instructions contained in addressable data received on said first channel; memory means for storing firmware received on said second channel; and processor means coupled to said memory means for accessing and executing firmware received from said headend to provide at least one converter function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
The converter of claim 1 further comprising: means for verifying the integrity of firmware received on said second channel; and means for causing said processor means to execute default operation software instead of said firmware in the event the integrity of said firmware is not verified.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 or 2 further comprising: timer means for returning said receiver to said first channel if it has been tuned to said second channel for a predetermined time period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The converter of claim 3 wherein said predetermined time period is specified in instructions contained in addressable data received on said first channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 3 or 4 wherein the length of said predetermined time period is dependent on the amount of firmware to be received.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said firmware implements a functional layout on a keyboard associated with said converter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said firmware implements a feedback function to assist a user in operating the converter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said firmware implements a control function for a video recorder coupled to the converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said firmware implements a communication protocol for the converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said firmware implements a descrambling technique for the converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said firmware implements an on-screen display to be provided by the converter to a television coupled thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said firmware implements a user interface to services provided over a cable television network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said firmware implements an electronic mail capability to be provided over a cable television network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said firmware implements a viewership monitoring function.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 14 further comprising: means for enabling downloaded firmware to be received and stored by the converter only in response to specific instructions received by said data receiving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said firmware is transmitted in an encrypted form, and said instructions contain a key for decrypting the firmware.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 1 to 16 wherein said firmware is received in a plurality of segments, and said instructions identify the number of segments to be received for a complete firmware download.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The converter of claim 17 further comprising: means for determining if all of said segments have been validly received; and means for receiving replacement segments if one or more segments of said firmware has not been validly received.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The converter as defined in one of claims 17 or 18 further comprising: means for preventing the receipt of firmware if the number of segments identified by said instructions is greater than a predetermined limit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
Cable television headend apparatus for downloading firmware to an addressable remotely modifiable cable television converter, comprising: means for transmitting addressable converter data on a first data channel of a cable television network; means for transmitting firmware on a second data channel of said cable television network: means for providing an address in said addressable converter data specific to a particular converter coupled to the network, said address enabling specific data to be received by said converter on said first data channel; and means for providing instructions in said specific data, said instructions causing said converter to receive firmware transmitted on said second channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: means for verifying that firmware downloaded to said converter has been successfully received by the converter.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined in one of claims 20 or 21 further comprising: billing means for maintaining a record of functions said converter is authorized to have, and for assigning a particular firmware package to be downloaded to said converter on the basis of the authorized functions.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for providing a cable television converter with functions dictated by downloaded firmware, comprising the steps of: receiving converter control data from a remote headend location; capturing a designated firmware package, from a set of firmware packages transmitted from said remote headend location, in response to instructions contained in said converter control data; storing the designated firmware package in a memory provided in said converter; and executing said firmware to provide at least one converter function dictated thereby.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the firmware packages are transmitted in encrypted form, said method comprising the further step of: decrypting the captured firmware using a key contained in said converter control data.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in one of claims 23 or 24 wherein said converter control data is received on a first channel of a cable television network and said firmware packages are captured from a second channel of the cable television network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 25 comprising the further steps of: monitoring said first channel to receive converter control data; switching to said second channel to capture firmware upon receipt of appropriate instructions on said first channel; and switching back to said first channel after said firmware is captured.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 26 comprising the further step of: switching back to said first channel from said second channel upon the expiration of a predetermined time period, if the firmware has not been captured within said time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 27 comprising the further step of: deriving said time period from converter control data received on said first channel.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in one of claims 27 or 28 wherein the length of the time period is dependent on the amount of firmware to be captured.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
128 words
A remotely modifiable user terminal comprising: means for receiving a plurality of cyclically transmitted firmware segments together comprising a firmware package; means coupled to said receiving means for verifying each segment upon receipt thereof; means responsive to said verifying means for storing each verified segment; means for determining if a complete firmware package has been stored in said storing means at the completion of a firmware transmission cycle; means responsive to said determining means for continuing to receive, verify, and store transmitted firmware segments during a subsequent firmware transmission cycle if said determining means finds that a complete firmware package has not been stored; and means for terminating the reception of firmware segments upon a finding by said determining means that a complete firmware package has been stored.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The terminal of claim 30 further comprising: means for precluding the execution of firmware segments until a complete firmware package has been stored.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
The terminal as defined in one of claims 30 or 31 wherein said verifying means tests a checksum for each firmware segment, said terminal further comprising: means for maintaining a record of the proper checksum for each segment; and means for periodically retesting said checksums after a complete firmware package has been stored.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The terminal of claim 46 further comprising: means for storing default operation software for said terminal; and means for executing said default operation software if said checksums are not verified upon retesting.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The terminal as defined in one of claims 30 to 33 further comprising: means for validating the complete firmware package after it has been stored.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The terminal of claim 34 further comprising: means for storing default operation software for said terminal; and means for executing said default operation software if said validating means determines that the complete firmware package is not valid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The terminal as defined in one of claims 30 to 35 further comprising: timer means for terminating the reception of firmware segments after a predetermined time period.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The terminal of claim 36 further comprising: means for storing default operation software for said terminal; and means for executing said default operation software if said timer means terminates the reception of firmware segments.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The terminal as defined in one of claims 30 to 37 wherein said terminal is a cable television converter, and the execution of said firmware provides at least one converter function.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
44 words
The terminal as defined in one of claims 30 to 38 wherein a complete firmware package includes a plurality of modules, said terminal further comprising: means for precluding the execution of downloaded firmware if fewer then all of the modules are available for execution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.