Settop cable television control device and method including bootloader software and code version table for maintaining and updating settop receiver operating system software
US7774820B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 2005 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/8402
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A cable television settop receiver and method includes a software component and a frequency acquisition method for determining the ability of the operating system/control program in the settop receiver to operate the settop receiver. The software component, referred to as a “bootloader”, executes on the processor contained in the settop receiver and determines the capability and version of the settop receiver operating system/control program. If the bootloader determines that the operating system/control program should be updated, the bootloader initiates a download sequence, the performance of which allows the proper operating system/control program to be downloaded to the settop receiver. The download occurs after receipt, by the settop receiver, of a code version table (CVT). The CVT includes information that the settop receiver uses to determine which frequency to tune to receive the replacement operating system/control program. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the bootloader initiates a frequency hunt sequence to determine the proper frequency to which to tune to receive the CVT. The frequency hunt sequence covers the entire spectrum of possible frequencies …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.