PCT
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`lmemauonal Bureau
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(51) International Patent ClaSSifiCHfiOH 6 3
`H04N 7/10
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`.
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`WO 97/30549
`
`21 August 1997 (21.08.97)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/U897/00257
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`13 January 1997 (13.01.97)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`601,455
`
`14 February 1996 (14.02.96)
`
`US
`
`[US/US]; Suite 100, 20833
`INC.
`(71) Applicant: POWERTV,
`Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014 (US).
`
`(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
`BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GE,
`HU, IL, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS,
`LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL,
`PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, 80, SI, SK, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA,
`U0, U2, VN, ARIPO patent (KE, LS. MW, SD, SZ, UG),
`Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB.
`GR. IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BI,
`CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`4597 (US).
` 204a
`
`(72) Inventor: MACINNIS, Alexander, G.; 121 Windsor Drive, San Published
`Carlos, CA 94070 (US).
`With international search report.
`
`(74) Agents: POTENZA, Joseph, M. et al.; Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.,
`Suite 1100, 1001 G Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001-
`
`(54) “He: MULTICAST DOWNLOADING OF SOFTWARE AND DATA MODULES AND THEIR COMPATIBILITY REQUIRE—
`MENTS
`
`MFG. MODEL
`(mar
`man-
`
`-:u-
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A system for downloading different versions of software or data modules into a plurality of terminals having different compatibility
`interfaces including an authoring component for generating the different module versions (201), a downloading source including a descriptor
`table which associates each module version with a list of compatibility requirements needed to download the module (202), and a plurality
`of terminals coupled to the downloading source (202, 203). The downloading source transmits the descriptor table to each terminal and
`also continuously tranmsits the modules over the network. Each terminal extracts the descriptor table and, based on a match between an
`entry in the descriptor table and an internally stored table, determines which version of the softw are should be downloaded.
`
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`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 0001
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`GB
`GE
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`[1‘
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PC!” on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international
`applications under the PCT.
`
`
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`
`
`
`Malawi
`MW
`United Kingdom
`Armenia
`AM
`
`Mexico
`MX
`Georgia
`Austria
`AT
`Niger
`NE
`Guinea
`Australia
`AU
`
`Netherlands
`NL
`Greece
`Barbados
`BB
`
`Norway
`N0
`Hungary
`Belgium
`BE
`New Zealand
`NZ
`Ireland
`Burkina Faso
`BF
`
`Poland
`Pl.
`Italy
`Bulgaria
`BG
`
`Portugal
`PT
`Japan
`Benin
`5.]
`Romania
`R0
`Kenya
`Brazil
`BR
`
`Russian Federation
`RU
`Kyrgystan
`Belarus
`BY
`
`Sudan
`SD
`Democratic People's Republic
`Canada
`CA
`
`Sweden
`SE
`of Korea
`Central African Republic
`CF
`
`Singapore
`56
`Republic of Korea
`KR
`Congo
`CG
`
`Slovenia
`5]
`Kazakhstan
`KZ
`Switzerland
`CH
`
`Slovakia
`SK
`Liechtenstein
`Ll
`COte d'Ivoire
`Cl
`Senegal
`SN
`Sri Lanka
`LK
`Cameroon
`CM
`
`
`
`Swaziland
`SZ
`Liberia
`LR
`China
`CN
`
`
`Chad
`TD
`Lithuania
`LT
`Czechoslovakia
`CS
`
`
`Togo
`TG
`Luxembourg
`LU
`Czech Republic
`CZ
`
`
`Tajikistan
`Tl
`Latvia
`LV
`Germany
`DE
`
`
`Trinidad and Tobago
`T‘T
`Monaco
`MC
`Denmark
`DK
`
`
`Ukraine
`UA
`Republic of Moldova
`MD
`Estonia
`EE
`
`
`
`
`Uganda
`UG
`Madagascar
`MG
`Spain
`ES
`
`
`United States of America
`US
`Mali
`ML
`Finland
`Fl
`
`
`FR
`France
`MN
`Mongolia
`UZ
`Uzbekistan
`GA
`Gabon
`MR
`Mauritania
`VN
`Viet Nam
`
`
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`WO 97/30549
`
`PCT/US97/00257
`
`MULTICAST DOWNLOADING OF SOFTWARE AND DATA
`MODULES AND THEIR COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1.
`
`Technical Field
`
`5
`
`This invention relates generally to systems for downloading software and
`
`data modules into terminals over a network, such as home communication
`
`terminals (HCTs) in a cable television network. More specifically, the invention
`
`provides an apparatus and method for selectively downloading different versions
`
`of software modules and data modules to a variety of potentially different
`
`10
`
`terminal types, where the differences may be due to variations in hardware,
`
`operating system versions, or other parameters.
`
`2.
`
`Related Information
`
`Systems capable of downloading computer software into terminals such
`
`as HCTs in a subscription television system are well known. For example, US
`
`15
`
`Patent No. 5 ,440,632 , entitled "Reprogrammable Subscriber Terminal " , describes
`
`a
`
`system including means
`
`for
`
`reprogramming subscriber
`
`terminals by
`
`downloading code in a series of transactions. Such systems can be used to add
`
`new applications, or to replace outdated or faulty software. Difficulties and
`
`inefficiencies may arise, however, in networks having different types of terminals
`
`20
`
`which require different versions of software.
`
`For example,
`
`in a cable television network, some subscribers may have
`
`the newest HCT model with fast processors, special peripherals and extra
`
`memory, while other subscribers may have older HCTs which do not have such
`
`-
`
`APPLE
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`WO 97/30549
`
`PCT/U897100257
`
`-2-
`
`interfaces or capabilities. Additionally, some HCTs may be loaded with the
`
`latest version of an operating system, while others may be compatible only with
`
`older versions of the operating system. Similarly, HCTs from different suppliers
`
`with different designs generally require different versions of software.
`
`In such
`
`5
`
`systems, multiple versions of software and data must be downloaded. Thus
`
`arises a problem in determining which versions of particular modules should be
`
`downloaded into each terminal, and providing an efficient scheme for doing so.
`
`One possible method for solving the aforementioned problem is to provide
`
`each terminal with means for requesting only a particular version of a module
`
`10
`
`from the headend.
`
`Unfortunately,
`
`such a
`
`scheme
`
`requires
`
`two-way
`
`communication between the terminals and the headend, which may be expensive
`
`and inefficient to provide, particularly since each terminal would require, at least
`
`temporarily, a dedicated channel for transmitting the requested version of the
`
`software or data.
`
`15
`
`Other downloading schemes involving client-server paradigms in a
`
`network environment are also known. For example, in a network comprising a
`
`server and a plurality of clients, any particular client on the network requiring
`
`a new or updated software module can download such software by making a
`
`request to the server, which provides the requested version over the network.
`
`20
`
`However, as noted above, in networks such as subscription television systems,
`
`such two-way communication may be expensive and difficult to provide, and may
`
`result in increased complexity and reduced download performance. Furthermore,
`
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`WO 97/30549
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`PCT/U897100257
`
`-3-
`
`it may be difficult
`
`to coordinate version numbers among different software
`
`applications,
`
`complicating the
`
`task of determining which versions of
`
`complementary software should be downloaded into a particular terminal.
`
`Finally, systems which require communication between the downloading
`
`source and each terminal impose additional processing requirements upon the
`
`downloading source and on the terminal.
`
`In a network comprising hundreds of
`
`thousands of terminals and a single downloading source, such added processing
`
`can slow down the system unacceptably.
`
`The above—described problems will likely worsen as the variety of HCTs
`
`expands to provide consumers with a wider range of terminals of varying
`
`capabilities and prices, and from multiple suppliers with different designs.
`
`Accordingly,
`
`in order to overcome the above and other difficulties. a
`
`means of selectively downloading software and data modules without requiring
`
`two-way client-server communication is desirable. To date, no such suitable
`
`approach has been developed.
`
`§U1VIMARY QF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing
`
`a system and method for selectively downloading software and data modules to
`
`terminals in a network without requiring communication between the terminal and
`
`the downloading source. The term " modules " as used herein includes application
`
`programs, subparts of programs, operating systems, "patches", data tables,
`
`groups of interpretable instructions, and the like.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`APPLE
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`W0 97/250549
`
`PCT/US97/00257
`
`-4-
`
`According to various aspects of the invention, an authoring source
`
`generates a plurality of module versions according to different
`
`terminal
`
`configurations, operating system versions, or other hardware parameters such as
`
`memory size.
`
`Each different module version has accompanying descriptor
`
`5
`
`information which identifies the compatibility requirements and/or interfaces
`
`needed to support the module. A transmitting (downloading) source such as a
`
`headend facility transmits, to a plurality of terminals. descriptors which correlate
`
`each module version with its required interfaces. Each terminal receives the
`
`transmitted descriptors and. by comparing the descriptors with an internal
`
`10
`
`configuration table, selects the "best" module version for that terminal. The
`
`actual module may be downloaded in a “carousel" channel which continuously
`
`broadcasts all
`
`the various versions of modules in a loop. or
`
`it may be
`
`downloaded by other means such as an in-band channel.
`
`According to another aspect of the invention, each terminal may
`
`15
`
`automatically extract the descriptors upon boot-up to automatically find the most
`
`recent version of the operating system to be downloaded for the terminal.
`
`According to yet another aspect of the invention, each terminal may
`
`extract the descriptors after a user selects an application program.
`
`Other features and advantages will become apparent through the following
`
`20
`
`detailed description, the drawings, and the appended claims.
`
`APPLE
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`WO 97/30549
`
`PCT/US97/00257
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`_ 5 _
`
`FIG.
`
`1 shows one possible configuration for a home communication
`
`terminal (HCT) on which various principles of the present invention may be
`
`practiced.
`
`FIG. 2 depicts a system employing various principles of the invention
`
`including an authoring source 201. a transmitting source 202, and a plurality of
`
`terminals 203 and 204 for receiving module descriptors.
`
`FIG. 3 shows in more detail how information regarding different module
`
`versions may be maintained in a table T and transmitted to a plurality of
`
`terminals, each of which maintains an internal table describing its compatibility
`
`requirements .
`
`FIG. 4 shows various steps which may be carried out in each terminal to
`
`download the latest version of an operating system into a terminal upon boot-up.
`
`FIG. 5 shows various steps which may be carried out in each terminal to
`
`download a compatible module
`
`into the
`
`terminal using the transmitted
`
`descriptors.
`
`DET
`
`ED DES
`
`I N OF THE PREFERRED EMBODINIENTS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a home communication terminal (HCT)
`
`which may be used to practice various principles of the present invention. The
`
`HCT may include a CPU card 100, graphics card 101, decoder card 102, display
`
`panel and key pad 103, main processing board 104, front end 105, tuning section
`
`106, and audio section 107.
`
`It is contemplated that the inventive principles may
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
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`WO 97/30549
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`PCT/US97/00257
`
`-6-
`
`be practiced using any suitable CPU 100a such as a PowerPC or Motorola 68000
`
`series, with suitable EPROM 100C and RAM 100b.
`
`It is also contemplated that
`
`application programs executing on CPU 100a can interact with various
`
`peripherals such as a mouse, game controllers, keypads, network interfaces, and
`
`the like, as is well known in the art.
`
`In summary, any particular HCT may
`
`comprise a variety of hardware components, but different HCTs may be equipped
`
`with different compatibility requirements such as memory sizes, processor types,
`
`audio capabilities, operating system versions, interfaces, and the like.
`
`FIG. 2 shows a system for downloading different module versions to
`
`10
`
`diverse HCTs in accordance with various aspects of the invention.
`
`In FIG. 2,
`
`the system 200 includes an authoring source 201, a transmitting source 202 such
`
`as a headend, a network N such as a cable television network. and a plurality of
`
`terminals 203 and 204 such as HCTs which are coupled to the network.
`
`In
`
`accordance with various aspects of the invention, authoring source 201 may
`
`15
`
`comprise one or more compilers, assemblers, loaders, debuggers and so forth
`
`represented by 201C. Using these tools, a plurality of modules indicated
`
`generally by 201a and 201b may be generated, corresponding to different
`
`application programs, different versions of the same application program, tuning
`
`tables, program guides, other data tables, and the like.
`
`20
`
`As one example, module 201a may comprise an executable video game
`
`program compatible with HCTs which include at least 500 kilobytes of memory,
`
`while module 201b may comprise a more elaborate version of the same program
`
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`WO 97130549
`
`PCT/US97/00257
`
`_ 7 -
`
`which requires at least 1 megabyte of memory (for example, it may include more
`
`sophisticated graphics or provided additional colors). While it is apparent that
`
`module 201a may operate in HCTs configured to contain either 500 kilobytes or
`
`1 megabyte,
`
`it is also apparent that module 201b can only operate properly in
`
`HCTs configured to contain at least 1 megabyte of memory.
`
`In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, each module
`
`201a and 201b may be provided to transmitting source 202 and associated with
`
`a module identifier. For example, module 202a is associated with a module
`
`identifier A which identifies it, while module 202b is associated with a module
`
`identifier B which identifies it. A compatibility requirement table T comprises
`
`entries each including a module identifier M and a list of compatibility
`
`requirements C which identify compatibility interfaces and/or capabilities
`
`required in a terminal in order for that terminal to download that module.
`
`Continuing with the example in FIG. 2, suppose that module 2023 is a
`
`video game which requires 500 kilobytes of memory in an HCT, while module
`
`202b is another version of the same video game which requires 1 megabyte of
`
`memory to operate (e.g., suppose it has enhanced graphics as compared to
`
`module 202a). Thus, module 202a may have a module identifier such as "Video
`
`Game X" (represented by A in table T) while module 202b may have the same
`
`or a similar module identifier such as "Video Game X" (represented by B in table
`
`T). Each module identifier preferably includes location information which allows
`
`the module to be located in a data stream, for example. Alternatively,
`
`the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
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`EXHIBIT 1003 - PAGE 0009
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`WO 97130549
`
`PCT/US97/00257
`
`- g _
`
`location information may be separately stored in table T, or derived by other
`
`means.
`
`Associated with each module identifier in table T is a list of compatibility
`
`requirements C which identifies the requirements needed to download and
`
`execute (or use) the specified module. For example, the entry for module A
`
`would include a field indicating that
`
`the module requires 500 kilobytes of
`
`memory to execute, while the entry for module B would indicate 1 megabyte in
`
`this field.
`
`In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, portions of
`
`10
`
`table T are transmitted continuously from transmitting source 202 over network
`
`N to terminals 203 and 204. Thus, each terminal receives a list of all modules,
`
`their compatibility interface requirements, and the location where each module
`
`may be found (e.g., an address in a data stream such as an MPEG transport
`
`stream, or a combination of data stream ID and identification number such as
`
`15
`
`packet and table identifiers within the stream). Each terminal also has its own
`
`internal table which identifies its own capabilities and]or compatibility interfaces.
`
`By matching the downloadable module requirements with its own internal
`
`capabilities, each terminal can determine what version of the video game
`
`application to download and where to find it, such as the location within a data
`
`20
`
`carousel or other structure.
`
`The actual downloading procedure may be
`
`accomplished by selectively extracting the module from a separate channel on
`
`which transmitting source 202 continuously broadcasts all versions of all the
`
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`WO 97/30549
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`PCT/US97/00257
`
`_ 9 -
`
`modules in a loop, or by other means.
`
`In accordance with the foregoing, each
`
`terminal may download the correct version of software and/or data from
`
`transmitting source 202 without making a request to source 202.
`
`As shown in FIG. 2, each terminal may include an internal table such as
`
`table 203a in terminal 203. Table 203 may identify the manufacturer’s model
`
`number of the terminal, the version number of the currently executing operating
`
`system,
`
`the amount of memory currently installed, and the current hardware
`
`configuration (for example, interface type such as Ethernet, etc.).
`
`Other fields may also be included, such as CPU RAM (indicating the
`
`amount of optional CPU memory installed), CPU flash (indicating the amount of
`
`optional CPU flash memory installed), MPEG RAM (indicating the amount of
`
`MPEG video decoder memory installed), graphics RAM (indicating the amount
`
`of graphics RAM installed), available CPU RAM (the amount of available CPU
`
`memory installed, or largest loadable block), or the like.
`
`If a terminal
`
`is upgraded to include additional memory or other
`
`capabilities, the terminal’s internal table would be correspondingly updated.
`
`FIG.
`
`3
`
`shows
`
`in additional detail how entries
`
`in compatibility
`
`requirements table T may be configured to describe the terminal capabilities
`
`required to download each module from downloading source 302. The term
`
`"module descriptors" as used herein refers to the group of compatibility
`
`requirements associated with a particular version of a module. Compatibility
`
`requirements table T thus correlates module identifiers (and their addresses) with
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
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`PCT/US97/00257
`
`-10-
`
`capabilities required to download the module. Each of the actual modules is
`
`preferably associated with a module identifier in table T, which is in turn
`
`associated with module descriptors. Other arrangements are of course possible,
`
`and the table configuration shown in FIG. 3 is not
`
`intended to be limiting.
`
`Entries could of course be combined or associated in ways other than that
`
`specifically illustrated.
`
`As shown in FIG. 3, each module can have associated therewith
`
`descriptors for a hardware manufacturer 306, hardware model number 307,
`
`operating system manufacturer 308, operating system version 309, memory
`
`10
`
`capacity 310, audio or other type of card manufacturer 311, and audio or other
`
`type of card model number 312. Additionally, location information 320 may be
`
`associated with each module to indicate the location from which the module may
`
`be downloaded (for example, a channel number with other associated parameters,
`
`an MPEG stream number, or the like). The descriptors shown in FIG. 3 are
`
`15
`
`intended to be exemplary and in no way limiting. More or fewer descriptors
`
`could of course be included, such as network subsystems, encoding/decoding
`
`options, encryption/decryption options, modulation techniques, data formats, and
`
`the like.
`
`As shown in FIG. 3,
`
`for example,
`
`two versions of a video game
`
`20
`
`application known as "Mortal Combat" are shown, each having different module
`
`descriptors.
`
`In order to download the first version of "Mortal Combat", a
`
`terminal must be compatible with hardware manufacturer A, model number
`
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`PCT/US97100257
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`_ 11 -
`
`greater than or equal to 10, must be executing an operating system manufactured
`
`by company X having a version number of 2.0 or greater, must have at least 500
`
`kilobytes of memory, and must have an audio card manufactured by manufacturer
`
`C with a model number of 2.2 or greater.
`
`If a terminal in the system meets all
`
`these requirements, it is assured that the indicated version of the application is
`
`compatible with the terminal.
`
`If, however, any one of the capabilities in the list
`
`fails to match the terminal’s capabilities, the application is presumed to be not
`
`compatible with the terminal.
`
`The second entry, also indicated as "Mortal Combat", has similar
`
`compatibility requirements, but requires a higher hardware model number (2.0
`
`or greater), a higher operating system version (3.1 or greater), at
`
`least
`
`1
`
`megabyte of memory, and an audio card within a
`
`range of audio cards
`
`manufactured by C (e.g., models 2.2 through 3.0).
`
`Similarly,
`
`three versions of a video game entitled "Asteroids" are
`
`described in table T,
`
`including versions which can operate across different
`
`terminal hardware manufacturers, operating system manufacturers, and audio
`
`cards. Two versions of a chess video game are also shown, neither of which
`
`requires an audio card (note "Don’t Care" entries). The final entry depicts a data
`
`table which can be downloaded by any terminal which includes an operating
`
`system manufactured by X; no other capabilities or interfaces are required.
`
`One or more fields may be included in table T which specify how the
`
`comparison between module descriptors and terminal capabilities is to be carried
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
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`WO 97130549
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`PCT/US97100257
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`-12-
`
`out. For example, a field can be included which, when set to a first value,
`
`indicates that the model and version number of the terminal must exactly match
`
`the model number and version number of the module; when set to a second
`
`value, indicates that the model numbers must match exactly but that the module
`
`operating system version number must be equal to or greater than the version
`
`number of the terminal; when set to a third value, indicates that both the model
`
`number and operating system version numbers of the terminal must be equal to
`
`or greater than the model number and version number of the module. Other
`
`variations are of course possible. As shown in FIG. 3,
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`for example,
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`the
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`comparison qualifiers are illustrated as being combined with the compatibility
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`requirement values in each field.
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`A plurality of modules may be concatenated into a data stream 305 which
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`is continuously transmitted on a "carousel" type channel, such as an out-of—band
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`channel or an in-band channel (indeed, the same transmission channel could be
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`used to transmit the descriptor table '1‘). Other techniques of transmitting data
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`containing the downloadable modules are of course possible, and the invention
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`is not intended to be limited in this respect.
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`Four terminals 313 through 316 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as being coupled
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`to network N.
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`In accordance with various aspects of the invention, table T may
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`be transmitted continuously over network N to all terminals, which receive the
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`table and extract
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`information therefrom to determine which modules are
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`compatible with the terminal. In order to accomplish this, each terminal includes
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`an internal table such as table 3133 including entries which at least overlap with
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`entries in table T. A computer program or other mechanism 313b receives table
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`T from the transmitting source 302 and compares entries in table T with the entry
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`in the internal table for that terminal
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`in order to select a compatible software
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`module to be downloaded.
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`Each terminal may extract information from table T at boot-up time, or
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`upon initiation of a particular program, or at any other time. For example, each
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`terminal may operate mechanism 313b upon boot-up to determine whether a
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`newer version of the operating system is available for downloading.
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`(In such a
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`case, the operating system version entry in table T would not be compared. since
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`the module to be downloaded is the operating system itself, and, as such, it does
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`not require the previously loaded operating system for compatibility with the
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`terminal).
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`As depicted in FIG. 3, terminal 313 includes an internal table 3133 which
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`indicates that the terminal
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`is presently configured as being manufactured by
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`hardware manufacturer A, model 1.0, and executing an operating system
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`manufactured by X, version 2.0. Additionally, terminal 313 includes 1 megabyte
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`of memory and audio card model 2.2 manufactured by manufacturer C.
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`Terminals 314 through 316 include similar tables. Note that terminal 316 does
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`not have an audio card.
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`Suppose that the user of terminal 313 selects the video game "Mortal
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`Combat", which is not currently resident in terminal 313.
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`In accordance with the
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`invention, download mechanism 313b extracts descriptor table T from the
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`network and locates the two versions of the requested "Mortal Combat" video
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`game in the table.
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`By comparing the two version descriptors with the
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`compatibility requirements of terminal 313, terminal 313 determines that only the
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`first version of the game can be downloaded, because the second version requires
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`a hardware model number of 2.0 or greater, which is not compatible with the
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`entries in table 313a. Accordingly, because the terminal entry in table 313a
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`satisfies the criteria described in the first entry of table T,
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`it can and does
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`download that version of "Mortal Combat" from module data stream 305,
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`without
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`requiring any requests
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`to downloading source 302.
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`Thus, no
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`communication is required between terminal 313 and downloading source 302 to
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`identify and coordinate the downloading of the correct version of a video game.
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`Terminal 313 can extract the proper version of "Mortal Combat" by virtue of an
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`association between its module name in table T with an address in data stream
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`305.
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`As another example, suppose that terminal 315 needs to download the
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`video game "Asteroids". 0f the three versions of "Asteroids" included in table
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`'1‘, the first version cannot be downloaded by terminal 315 because it is only
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`compatible with terminals manufactured by manufacturer A. However, either of
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`the second two versions would be compatible with the requirements included in
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`table 315a, the only difference being that the second version requires only 500
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`kilobytes to be downloaded, while the third version requires 1 megabyte.
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`In
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`accordance with various aspects of the invention, terminal mechanism 315b may
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`select the "best" version, which would presumably correspond to the 1 megabyte
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`version (i.e., it is the version having the highest degree of match).
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`As yet another example, note that any of terminals 313, 314 and 315 may
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`5
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`download the data table (last entry in table T), but that terminal 316, which
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`executes an operating system manufactured by manufacturer Z, is not compatible
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`with the data table. Thus, it is apparent that each terminal can select for itself
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`-- without communicating to downloading source 302 -- which of several versions
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`of a software or data module can be downloaded into that terminal.
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`FIG. 4 shows steps which may be executed by each terminal in order to
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`automatically upgrade the operating system to the latest version upon boot—up or
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`other initialization sequence. Beginning in step 401, the terminal boots up or
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`otherwise commences an initialization sequence. This could occur upon power-
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`up, for example, or upon receiving a command from the network.
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`In step 402, the terminal receives the module descriptor table from the
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`network from a known channel and location.
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`In step 403, the terminal compares
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`all
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`the operating system modules in the received descriptor table which are
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`compatible with the particular hardware configuration of the terminal (e.g.,
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`it
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`matches terminal manufacturer, model, operating system manufacturer, and
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`memory). Based on the comparison between the operating system modules in the
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`received table and the hardware parameters in its internal configuration table, the
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`terminal finds the highest operating system version number which is compatible
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`with the terminal’s hardware parameters.
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`In step 404, a comparison is made between the highest compatible
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`operating system version number available in the received descriptor table and
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`the currently executing operating system version number in the terminal.
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`If the
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`highest available operating system version is less than or equal to the version
`
`currently executing in the terminal, then in step 405 the terminal continues its
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`normal processing. However, if a newer (higher) version of the operating system
`
`is available,
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`in step 406 the terminal downloads the newer version from the
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`download data stream, and reboots the terminal in step 407 to install the newer
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`version. The downloading in step 406 can be accomplished by tuning to a
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`"carousel" channel and locating the newest operating system version according
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`to its address in the data channel (the module address can be extracted from the
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`descriptor table).
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`In step 404,
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`instead of determining whether a newer version of the
`
`operating system is available, the terminal could instead make a determination
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`that the currently loaded operating system is corrupted or otherwise not suitable.
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`In such a circumstance, the terminal could automatically obtain the latest version
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`of the operating system by locating and downloading it from the data stream.
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`Instructions to execute the steps shown in FIG. 4 could be installed into ROM
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`to prevent erasure or corruption.
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`FIG. 5 shows how a terminal may download an application module or
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`data module in response to selecting an application, whether by user input or
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`other means (e.g., the operating system may select a program or data table for
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`a purpose). Beginning in step 501, an application module (such as a video game,
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`a stock market tool, a billing program, or the like) or a data module (such as a
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`tuning table, operating system parameter table, screen icon or the like)
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`is
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`selected.
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`In step 502, the terminal extracts the module descriptor table from the
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`network at a known channel and location.
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`In step 503, the terminal finds the
`
`"best" version of the selected application or data module in the received
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`descriptor
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`table which is compatible with the terminal’s capabilities and
`
`interfaces. This may include checking all of the fields shown in FIG. 3, a subset
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`of these fields, or additional fields.
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`In step 504, a comparison is (optionally) made between the "best" located
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`version of the selected module and any currently loaded version (if any) of the
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`module in the terminal.
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`If a currently loaded version of the module is already
`
`the "best" version for the terminal, then in step 505 the currently loaded version
`
`is executed. However, if a newer version (or a version not currently loaded) is
`
`available, then in step 506 the specified version of the module is downloaded
`
`from the network. Thereafter, in step 507, the application is executed or the
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`downloaded data module is accessed.
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`In step 501. instead of an application or data module being "selected" , the
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`terminal may perform an equivalent step by terminating an existing application.
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`Thus, for example, if a "navigator" program is normally executed by the terminal
`
`to allow a user to select from among a group of applications,
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`then at
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`the
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