Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
  • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
  • H04H20/86—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
  • H04H20/91—Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself broadcasting computer programmes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
  • H04N21/235—Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
  • H04N21/236—Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream
  • H04N21/23614—Multiplexing of additional data and video streams
  • H04N21/23617—Multiplexing of additional data and video streams by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/435—Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/443—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
  • H04N21/4431—OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
  • H04N21/458—Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations
  • H04N21/4586—Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
  • H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for upgrading software of a target device in digital broadcasting. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for updating software of a target device whose software is subject to updating, the target device being one of several target devices.
• Digital broadcasting literally refers to a mode of broadcasting in which videos, audios, data and so on are processed and converted into digital signals and then transmitted in a transmission mode of digital signals, which is distinguished from a oonventional analog broadcasting.
• Digital processing refers to conversion of analog signals into digital signals composed of zero(0) and one (1) using high-advanced digital technologies, wherein the converted signals are compressed together with other information and then transmitted in the digital transmission mode.
• the transmitted signals are restored to videos and/or audios as originally identified in a receiving device (that is, target device) called a set-top box.
• Digital signals are advantageous in that they are generally resistant to noise, need less power of transmission, can use a technique of error correction and have less degradation due to transmission, copying and ac ⁇ imlation, in comparison to analog signals.
• digital signals can use a compression algorithm such as a motion picture expert group (MPEG), it is possible to compress video and audio signals sharply to thereby reduce the amount of information.
• MPEG motion picture expert group
• LSI large scale integration
• the digital broadcasting that is currently being o ⁇ mercialized, or is in the process of being ⁇ r ⁇ ner ⁇ alized, supports high-definition broadcasting which has picture quality that is over two times clearer than in the conventional analog TV set.
• stereophonic sound of 5.1 channel is supported, thereby allowing a user to hear live sound as if he/she is at a concert hall.
• the aspect ratio of the screen is 16:9, (i.e., a wide screen is adopted at the same ratio of a theater screen ), thereby making it possible to watch a movie in a full mode when watching the movie at home.
• a digital TV can also receive data from or transmit data to a variety of home electric appliances including a digital versatile disk (DVD) player, a digital carrcorder, a digital VCR and the like, all of which process signals in a digital mode, similar to a personal computer (PC), by means of a series interface.
• DVD digital versatile disk
• PC personal computer
• Digital broadcasting services using bidirectional networks which have recently been ready to be provided to users, can provide a variety of bidirectional services with added values, for example, home shopping and home banking as well as Internet searches.
• FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an interactive digital broadcasting system
• the digital broadcasting system generally comprises a digital broadcasting service provider 100 and a plurality of receiving devices (target devices) 200 receiving digital broadcasts supplied by the digital broadcasting service provider 100.
• the digital broadcasting service provider 100 may refer to broadcasting stations which transmit digital broadcasting signals.
• the digital broadcasting service provider 100 may broadcast content as internally produced on its own and/or broadcasting contents provided by a content provider (not shown).
• the digital broadcasting service provider 100 may provide unidirectional services through broadcasting media available only for unidirectional data transmission to the target device 200 as well as analog bidirectional services through bidirectional networks.
• the user may request the digital broadcasting service provider 100 to provide him/her with video on demand (VOD) services by means of the target device 200 for bidirectional digital broadcasting or place an order to the provider 100 to purchase any items an actor/actress is wearing, such as clothes, accessories, while he/she is watching the TV.
• VOD video on demand
• ATSC Advanced Television Systems Committee
• DVB Digital Video Broadcasting
• the DVB mode uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which may be modulated to differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) or n- quadrature amplitude modulation (n-QAM).
• the DVB broadcasting system is basically comprised of a source coding and miltiplexing unit, a channel coding and modulating unit, a transmission medium, a demodulating and decoding unit and a display unit.
• the source coding and miltiplexing unit uses MPEG-2 to compress digital images and sounds to a desired transmission speed and thereby reduce the bandwidth required.
• the channel coding and modulating unit adds any residual data to MPEG-2 data coded for channel coding in order to cope with any error which may be caused in the course of signal transmission.
• the channel-coded signals are demodulated as appropriate depending upon the state of a transmission medium.
• a transmission medium There are a variety of transmission media according to the broadcasting types, satellite, cable or terrestrial broadcasting, etc.
• the demodulating and decoding unit restores baseband signals from radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through the transmission medium.
• the display unit displays the restored signals.
• RF radio frequency
• the ATSC mode has been used as a terrestrial transmission standard defining the speed of transporting bitstream content, and transmitting digital data at 6MHz RF channel, adopting 19. ⁇ bps as the official speed of bitstream ATSC system employs RF modulation mode of 8 vestigial side band (VSB) using rmltiple picture format, digital audio/video compression, packetization and a single carrier.
• VSB vestigial side band
• the transmission protocol follows standards of ATSC- A/90, which can be obtained at www.atsc.org/standards/a_90-with-att.pdf, which is incorporated by reference. After data are encapsulated by the protocol, the data are multiplexed in the structure of MPEG-2 transport stream and then transmitted.
• the service protocol follows the ATSC-DAT ABASE specification, and makers of receiving apparatuses are required to provide hardware platforms, operation systems, and device drivers that are compatible with protocols using the ATSC-DATABASE specification. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem
• an extended model field to distinguish digital broadcasting receiving apparatuses and a service method for updating software thereof by defining an extended version field to more exactly distinguish versions of software for updating and distinguishing a receiving apparatus subject to updating by use of the extended model field and the extended version field.
• a method for updating software of a digital receiving apparatus comprising broadcasting information including a version of an extended identifier and an extended software of a receiving device targeted for software updating using a data service announcement, and transmitting the software to the receiving apparatus having the extended identifier when the software transmission condition is met.
• the extended identifier comprises a universally unique identifier (UUID).
• UUID universally unique identifier
• the version of the extended software may employ at least two or more sub-versions, and the version system has three layers such as a major version, a minor version and a micro version, each of which is represented with 16 bits.
• the data service announcement may include information on the time for software update, and the software transmission condition is met when the time for software update approaches.
• the time information for the software update included in the data service announcement may comprise two cases: one case where the update is made within a predetermined period of time and the other case where the update is made after a predetermined period of time has passed.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an interactive digital broadcasting system
• FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process of updating software according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of updating software according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a table illustrating structures of compatibility descriptors of Digital Storage Media Command and Control of ATSC data broadcast standards (A/90);
• FIG. 5 is a table illustrating structures of extended model subdescriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a table illustrating structures of extended version subdescriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a table illustrating structures of software updating information descriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Mode for Invention
• FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process of updating software according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• a set-top box maker determines whether software of a set-top box is subject to receiving an updating service (hereinafter referred to as 'a target set-top box'). Where there is a need to update software of set-top boxes under a certain model or to update software of set-top boxes during a particular period of time, the set-top box maker ascertains a proper identifier of a concerned set-top box so as to distinguish the target set-top box from other set-top boxes. When the set-top box maker produces its set-top boxes, it allocates a proper identifier to each of the respective devices or models.
• the proper identifiers employ UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers) proposed by Microsoft Corporation.
• UUID is a term to refer to a proper number generated by a program so as to allocate a proper identity to such an entity as a Microsoft WordTM document.
• Most conventional programming languages have used names as identifiers, which should be unique in the relevant technology area.
• GUID Global Unique Identifier
• UUID UUID
• GUID and UUID are both structures with 128 bit size. If they are generated by a Uu- nidCreateO function, they are only allowed to generate a unique identifier . This uniqueness is global and has no relevance to time and place.
• the set-top box maker can make its set-top boxes having their proper identifiers distinguished from the set-top boxes produced by other makers, by using UUID.
• the set-top box maker determines which set-top box is subject to receiving its software update. When determined, the maker provides the time of updating, the UUID of the target set-top box, and the current version of software to a digital broadcasting service provider.
• the digital broadcasting service provider gives an advance notice to broadcast the update service so as to allow viewers to learn information about the time of updating, the UUID of the target set-top box, and the current version of software.
• the target set-top box memorizes the time of updating and arranges for updating when the updating time has come.
• the set-top box maker supplies the software to be updated to the digital broadcasting service provider and the provider broadcasts the software.
• the set-top box having received the broadcast software updates its own software. Announcement, signaling, and encapsulation will be described with respect to FIGS. 4 through 7.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of updating software according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• software updating is based on a bidirectional network.
• a set-top box maker determines which set-top box is targeted to update its software and ascertains the UUID of the target set-top box. Subsequently, the set-top box maker provides the digital broadcasting service provider with software, UUID of the target set-top box, and the version of software. The provider broadcasts an advance notice for updating to allow users to learn which set-top box is targeted for software updating and the version of software.
• the set-top box having received the updating notice determines whether its UUID is identical to the UUID identified in the update notice and whether the version of software is newer than its own.
• this target set-top box When the notice for software updating is directed to the set-top box that received the notice, this target set-top box requests the digital broadcasting service provider to update its software and the digital broadcasting service provider having received such a request transmits the software to be updated to the target set-top box.
• the target set-top box that receives the software updates its own software.
• the digital broadcasting service provider gives an advance notice for updating as shown in FIG. 3
• the URL of the software targeted for updating may be sent at the same time.
• the set-top box may receive the concerned software directly at the received URL to thereby update the software.
• FIG. 4 is a table illustrating structures of compatibility descriptors of Digital Storage Media Command and Control of ATSC data broadcast standards (A/90).
• the term 'uimsbf is an abbreviation of 'unsigned integer most significant bit first.
• the field 'compatibilityDescriptorLength' refers to a field having 16 bits, indicating the total length of a descriptor including the field of 'descriptorCount,' excluding the length of 'compatibilityDescriptorLength.
• the 'de- scriptorCount' field comprises a 16 bit field, specifying the number of descriptors.
• the field 'descriptorType' comprises an 8 bit field, which is used to distinguish types of hardware or software.
• the field 'descriptorLength' comprises an 8 bit field, indicating the total length of the descriptors, excluding the descriptors 'descriptorType' and 'descriptorLength.'
• the field 'spe ⁇ fierType' comprises an 8 bit field, which is used to distinguish formats of the field of 'spe ⁇ fierData.
• the field 'spe ⁇ fierData' comprises the 24 bit field, distinguishing an organization in a unique manner. The value allocated to this field is dependent upon the 'specifierType' field.
• the field 'model' comprises a 16 bit field, used to distinguish various models defined by an organization.
• the 'model' field is extended so as to use a UUID of 128 bits, which will be described later.
• the field 'version' comprises a 16 bit field, used to distinguish different versions of the models defined by the organization.
• the version field is extended and the version is specified and distinguished, which will be described later.
• the field 'subDescriptorCount' comprises an 8 bit field, representing the number of subDescriptors.
• the 'descriptorCount' field has the value of '0x002' to indicate that it has two descriptors
• the 'descriptorType' field has the vale of 0x01' to indicate the system hardware
• the 'specifierType' field has the value of 0x01 value to indicate OUI of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
• the first descriptor of the 'spe ⁇ fierData' field has to have a unique value allocated by the IEEE for the makers of terminals covered by software update
• the model and version fields of the first descriptor have to be defined by the maker of a concerned terminal, and they are used for the software update, except for the cases of 0x0000 and OxFFFF
• the 'extendedModelSub- Describor' field according to the present invention should be defined as in FIG.
• the software update may be applied to all the models of a specified maker if the model field value of the first descriptor is OxFFFF, (8) the 'extendedVersionSub- Describor' field according to the present invention should be defined as in FIG.
• the software update may be applied to all the models of a specified maker if the version field value of the first descriptor is OxFFFF, (10) the 'subDe- scriptorCount' field of the first descriptor may be larger than 2, in the case in which the terminal ignores all subDescriptors when the 'subDescriptorType' field is not specified as 0x01 or 0x02, (11) the 'descriptorType' field of the second descriptor may have the value of 0x02, indicating that it is the system software, and (12) the software components to be updated, rather than hardware components, of the terminal are specified under the above items (3) through (10), which will apply to the second descriptor except for the maker, model and version to be used.
• FIG. 5 is a table illustrating structures of extended model subdescriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• An extended model subdescriptor employs UUID allocated by the maker to specify hardware or software model.
• UUID since the UUID is used, it may have a much larger space than the 16 bit model field of DSM-CC compatibility descriptor, to distinguish hardware or software.
• the value 'subDescriptorType' indicates a type of the subdescriptor.
• the type of the subdescriptor has the value of 0x01.
• the 'subDescriptorLength' has a value to indicate the number of bits within the subdescriptor after this field.
• the ⁇ uuid()' is a field to specify the UUID determined by the maker, which distinguishes a unique model of hardware or software.
• FIG. 6 is a table illustrating structures of extended version subdescriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the extended version subdescriptor is used to specify the version of hardware or software, having the numbers of main version, sub version and micro version as allocated by the maker. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the extended version subdescriptor provides a mechanism more extendible so as to distinguish a version of hardware units or a version of software components.
• the 'subDescriptorType' field indicates a type of a subdescriptor.
• the value to indicate the type of the subdescriptor is 0x02.
• the 'subDescriptorLength' field indicates the number of bits within the subdescriptor following this field.
• the 'minor' specifies the number of a subversion and 'micro' specifies the number of a micro version. When each version has the value of OxFFFF, it is used to indicate all versions of each version.
• FIG. 7 is a table illustrating structures of software update information descriptors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• software update data service employs a data service announcement as defined by ATSC- A/90 in order to provide notification of the software update. Limited use thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
• a descriptor describing software update information is used to provide information about a software update in the context of a software update data service announcement. The structures therefor will be considered below.
• the 'descriptorTag' field indicates a type of the descriptor, having the constant value of 8 bits.
• the 'descriptorLength' is a field used to indicate the number of bits following this field in this descriptor, having the value of 8 bits.
• the 'compatibility- Descriptor' is a field used to specify the compatibility descriptor described in FIGS. 4 to 6.
• descriptor() comprises one or more software update information descriptors as an internal descriptor loop structure of an entry of data_event_table_section() which is a structure for the software update data service announcement.
• data_event_table_section() a structure for the software update data service announcement.
• the descriptor() comprises one or more software update information descriptors as an internal descriptor loop structure of an entry of long_term_service_table() which is a structure for the software update data service announcement.
• long_term_service_table() When one and more software update information descriptors are in the same entry of the structure long_term_service_table(), the above-described software update information descriptors are not to be identical.
• the software update service is signaled using the service description framework defined according to ATSC- A/90.
• the following shows limitations applied to an entry of each application of the data service table (DST), the data service table explaining software updates for the data applications.
• the field 'ccmpatibilityDescriptor() is a structure used to specify a compatibility descriptor described, for example, in FIGS. 4 to 6.
• the field 'app_id_byte()' is a UUID coded in a binary mode, the UUID being unique with respect to the parameter space ⁇ deviceManufacturer, deviceModel, de- viceVersion, softwareComponent, softwareComponentVersion>. These parameters are determined by the content of the compatibility descriptor.
• the field 'selector_type' of 'selectorO' has the values of 0x0101, 0x0107 or 0x0108 when the field 'selector_length' has the value of 0, 4, 6 or 8.
• the software update payload is encapsulated into one or more modules as defined in Chapter 7 of DSM-CC, User-to-Network Download. Sngle and double level control structures are all permitted. Modules and constructions to encapsulate the software update payload will be defined by individual manufacturers. Industrial Applicability
• software update services can be provided by distinguishing receiving apparatuses in a unique manner using an UUID, with little or no modification of the conventional data broadcasting standards.
• version information of software can be subdivided differently from the conventional digital broadcasting.

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• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
• Library & Information Science (AREA)
• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-11-04 EP EP04800009A patent/EP1687981A4/de not_active Ceased
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