Functionally modifiable cable television converter system
US5003591A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 1989 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/8456
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.