KR100764097B1 - Program updating method of set-top box - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention aims to abstract each function constituting the set-top box as a program module, and to provide a method for the user to add, delete, and update module by module automatically or manually through a network. Requesting and receiving an information table for a module to maintain; Comparing the received module information table with information of a module held by the set-top box; Requesting and receiving update data from the module management server for the module if the module maintained in the module management server is up to date as a result of the comparison; It provides a program update method comprising the step of updating the module of the set-top box using the received update data.

Digital ip broadcasting, set-top box, update

Description

PROGRAM UPDATING METHOD OF SET-TOP BOX}

1 is a configuration diagram of a set-top box for receiving a general digital IP broadcast.

2 is a block diagram of a system for performing a program update method according to the present invention;

3 is a configuration diagram of an information table used to manage the program module of the set-top box according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart of a program updating method according to the present invention;

(Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing)

111: control unit of the set-top box

112: memory section

113: compact flash

114: network interface unit

115: auxiliary storage unit

116: input unit

121: Video / Sound Decoder

122: video output unit

123: sound output unit

211 module management server

221: broadcast control server

231: Internet backbone network

241: Set Top Box

The present invention relates to a method of updating a program of a set-top box in a set-top box for receiving a digital IP broadcast, and more particularly, only a program module having a desired software function among various software functions provided by a digital IP broadcast service provider. It relates to a method that can be installed and updated automatically or manually.

Typically, set-top boxes cannot be automatically updated when a manufacturer releases a product. Version upgrade is available through A / S center or network, but this is a batch upgrade and there is a limit to providing personalized functions according to individual tastes. In addition, it can be installed and upgraded by integrating all functions. However, even if only one of the integrated functions is modified, there is a problem of upgrading again. When the unused function is installed, the capacity of the storage device is unnecessary. There is a problem that increases.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to abstract each function constituting the set-top box into a module of a program, and to provide a method for a user to add, delete, and update module by module automatically or manually through a network.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a module information table including information on a plurality of modules is received and the update data is provided from a module management server that holds data for updating the plurality of modules. A method of updating a program comprising a plurality of modules installed in a broadcast set top box, the method comprising: requesting and receiving, by the set top box, a module information table for the plurality of modules from the module management server; Comparing the information on the plurality of modules in the received module information table with the information on the plurality of modules held by the set top box; Requesting and receiving update data for the module that is not the latest from the module management server when the module maintained in the set-top box is not the latest module as a result of the comparison; It provides a program update method of a set-top box comprising the step of updating the not the latest module of the set-top box by using the received update data.

In addition, the step of requesting the information table for the module maintained in the module management server, characterized in that performed by the user of the set-top box or when the preset time or set-top box is set in the set-top box in the standby mode do.

In addition, comparing the received module information table with the information of the module maintained in the set-top box and requesting the update data may include displaying information on the module maintained in the set-top box and the received module information table. step; And selecting at least one module to be updated based on the displayed information by the user of the set-top box.
In addition, when a failure occurs in the set-top box, the method further comprises the step of reinstalling the module in which the failure of the plurality of modules of the set-top box to the module before the failure.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a typical set-top box in digital IP broadcasting. The set-top box 241 according to the drawing includes a control unit 111, a memory unit 112, a compact flash 113, a network interface unit 114, an auxiliary memory unit 115, an input device unit 116, and an image. / Audio decoder 121, the image output unit 122, and the sound output unit 123.

The control unit 111 includes a network interface unit 114, a compact flash 113, a memory unit 112, a video / audio decoder 121, an auxiliary memory unit 115, and an input device unit 116. Each part of the box 241 is connected to activate the set top box 241 to execute a program for receiving broadcasts, and to control various peripheral devices connected to the set top box 241.

That is, the controller 111 enables the viewer to watch the desired broadcast by using the network interface 114, the memory 112, and the video / audio decoder 121. In addition, the control unit 111 executes a boot loader stored in the compact flash 113, and after performing a hardware-related initialization operation of the set-top box 241 by the boot loader, the kernel stored in the compact flash 113. To the memory, and then passes control of the set-top box 241 to the kernel. The kernel executed in the control unit 111 executes a broadcast receiving program, and the viewer can select a channel to be watched through the input device unit 116 using the remote controller.

The memory unit 112 stores a broadcast receiving program that is being executed under the control of the control unit 111, and temporarily buffers broadcast media data received through the network interface unit 114 in order to eliminate a disconnection of the broadcast. do.

The compact flash 113 is a nonvolatile memory that can preserve input and output data even when the power is cut off. The compact flash 113 stores various data such as a boot loader, a kernel, a program for receiving broadcasts, a program necessary for a customized advertisement service for each viewer, and various setting information. Doing.

The network interface unit 114 is connected to an external network through a communication medium such as a telephone line or an optical cable. All data including the information table from the IP-based broadcast program and the module management server to be described later and the module update data may be transmitted and received through the network interface unit 114.

The video / audio decoder 121 transmits the encoded broadcast media data (MPEG2, 4, WMV, H.264, ...) transmitted through a network including the Internet backbone network under the control of the control unit 111. 114, and decodes the data into an analog video / audio signal and outputs the same through the video output unit 122 and the audio output unit 123.

The set top box 241 may also provide an interface for video / audio output (S-VIDEO, Component, Composite, HDVI, etc.) that can be connected to various external devices.

The input device unit 116 includes various buttons so that the viewer can input predetermined information into the set top box 241, and further provides an interface with a remote controller.

The auxiliary memory unit 115 stores media data to be broadcast in order to reduce the load on the network caused by the broadcast media data stream. Broadcast media data that is not stored in the auxiliary memory unit 115 is received and converted in real time through a network if necessary, is output to the image output unit 122 and the sound output unit 123, and at the same time the auxiliary storage unit 115 ), Or when the set top box 241 is in the standby mode or at a predetermined time.

The set top box of the present invention as described above comprises a program for driving the set top box to receive IP broadcasts. The program consists of at least one module, which can be designed to work individually. Therefore, the program installed in the set-top box in the present invention is provided in a form that can be installed, deleted, and updated for each of these modules.

A system for performing a method of adding, deleting, or updating a program according to the present invention in a set-top box 241 for receiving a digital IP broadcast including the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2. This system is composed of a set-top box 241, an Internet backbone network 231, an xDSL or cable network 232, a module management server 211, and a broadcast control server 221.

The set-top box 241 receives the broadcast schedule information and the stream server information from the broadcast control server 221, the media transmitted from the stream server 222 and transmitted through the Internet backbone network 231 and the xDSL or cable network 232. Receive data. The set-top box 241 provides an interface (S-VIDEO, Component, Composite, HDVI) that can be recognized by various display devices in order to decode the received media data and output it for viewing by a viewer.

XDSL network or cable network 232 using existing telephone line or cable installs optical cable to the demand-intensive area and subscriber uses existing copper telephone line or cable, so that not only existing telephone service or cable broadcasting service but also high speed internet, VOD, comprehensive Various multimedia services such as cable broadcasting can be provided.

The Internet backbone network 231 is a backbone network that functions as a main trunk of the entire Internet, and is configured by interconnecting ISPs (Internet Service Providers) with high speed lines.

 The module management server 211 has a table relating to all modules and programs available in the set-top box 241, and provides the table information when requested by the set-top box 241. The module management server 211 may maintain the data of the actual module and the program in a separate download server 212, and may download the requested data from the download server when the data is requested.

In this case, the download server may store the entire module and the program file as an FTP server, and may transmit the IP module to the IP set-top box 241 through the Internet backbone network 231 and the xDSL or cable network 232 at the user's request.

The broadcast control server 221 has broadcast schedule information and stream server information, and when requested by the IP set-top box 241, provides the stream server information to be actually connected.

The stream server transmits the media data requested by the IP set-top box 241 to the IP set-top box 241 through the Internet backbone network 231 and the xDSL or cable network 232 based on the RTP, RTCP, and RTSP protocols.

In such a system, modules and programs downloaded from the module management server 211 and the download server to the memory unit 112, which is a temporary storage device of the set-top box 241, may be stored in the compact flash after verifying the data in the control unit 111. . Thus, the structure of the table of data (or information table) to be managed for downloading of modules and programs will be described with reference to FIG.

3 is a configuration diagram of a version table used to manage the program module of the set-top box according to the present invention, the table to be managed in the present invention is the entire module information table 311 managed by the module management server 211 and There is a user-specific program information table 321, which can be divided into a set-top box module information table 331 managed by the set-top box 241.

The full module information table 311 consists of module number 312, module name 313, major version 314, minor version 315, dependency information 316, and module type 317. Manage all module information provided. Module number 312 is a unique number that points to modules and programs and is a key that allows cross-reference of all tables with major version 314 and minor version 315. The module name 313 represents the module name as a string. Major version 314 is changed when the module and program enhancements, and minor version 315 is used when applying the patch. The dependency information 316 stores module information necessary for module execution so that the module can be installed automatically by referring to the dependency relationship between modules when the module is installed. The module type 317 can be divided into a module and a program, and only program information is provided to the user. The module is automatically installed and updated according to the dependency of the dependency information 316 field when the program is installed.

The user-specific program information table 321 includes a set-top box unique number 328, a module number 322, a major version 324, and a minor version 325, and manages program installation information for each user. Set-top box unique number 328 is a unique number indicating the user is a key to distinguish each set-top box. The module number 322, major version 324, and minor version 325 are values corresponding to the module number 312, major version 314, and minor version 315 of the entire module information table 311. The user-specific program information table 321 manages only modules whose module type 317 is a program. Modules dependent on the program are searched through the entire module information table 311.

When a failure occurs in the set-top box 241, the program information table 321 for each user is taken and compared with the set-top box module information table 331 stored in the set-top box 241, and reinstalled.

The set top box module information table 331 is composed of a set top box unique number 338, a module number 332, a module name 333, a major version 334, a minor version 335, and a set top box 241. Manage the information of installed modules and programs. The set top box unique number 338 is a unique number indicating a user and corresponds to the set top box unique number 328 of the user-specific program information table 321. Module number 332, module name 333, major version 334, minor version 335 are the module number 312, module name 313, major version 314 of the full module information table 311, A value indicating minor version 315. The set top box module information table 331 is used at the time of automatic recovery of the set top box 241 and is used to automatically install a module patch during the standby mode.

As described above, the set-top box 241 may add, delete, or update a program according to a user's request by using a software management table, and may automatically patch a module in a standby mode.

4 is a flowchart of a program update method according to the present invention. FIG. 4 (a) illustrates a process of adding, deleting, and updating a program of a set-top box at the request of a user. FIG. A process performed when the set top box is in the standby mode is shown.

First, referring to FIG. 4A, when the user executes the module management screen, the set-top box 241 accesses the module management server 211 in step 411. If the connection is successful, the process proceeds to step 412 to download the entire module information table 311. After downloading, the process proceeds to step 413 and the entire module information table 311 and the set-top box module information table 331 are analyzed together to display the entire program table. At this time, the program name, whether the program is installed, whether it can be updated, and the detailed description of the program function are displayed in the graphic environment. When the user selects an operation to be installed, deleted, or updated by using a predetermined button or a remote controller of the set-top box, the process proceeds to steps 421, 431, and 441, respectively.

When the installation is selected, after proceeding to step 422, the dependency relationship between the modules of the program to be newly installed is analyzed using the entire module information table 311 and the set-top box module information table 331. After downloading the module or program to be installed from the download server in step 423, the module or program downloaded in step 424 is installed. After installing the program, proceed to step 425 to access the module management server 211. In step 426, the module management server 211 notifies the program installation information so that the program information table 321 can be managed by the set top box. The module information table 331 is modified. After completing installation and changing table information, proceed to step 427 to display the processing result to the user.

When selecting an update, the process proceeds to step 432 and the table of modules or programs to be updated is analyzed for program update. After downloading the module to be updated as in step 433 and step 423, if the download is successful, go to step 434 and delete the already installed modules. If the already installed module is successfully deleted, the process proceeds to step 424 to proceed with the installation of the new program.

In case of deletion selection, the process proceeds to step 442 and the module table to be deleted is analyzed. Modules are excluded from the delete module table if they are also used by other programs. In step 443, after deleting the selected module and program, the process proceeds to step 425 to change the table information.

The above process relates to a process of adding, deleting or updating a program according to a request of a set-top box user. However, even if the program is installed at the user's decision, when the module or program is patched, the program may be automatically executed when the set top box is in the standby mode.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when the set top box 241 is in the standby mode, the process proceeds to step 471 where the set top box 241 connects to the module management server 211. If the connection is successful, the process proceeds to step 472 where the entire module information table 311 is downloaded. After downloading, the process proceeds to step 473, and compares the entire module information table 311 and the set-top box module information table 331 to analyze the existence of modules and programs to be patched. If there is a table to be patched in step 474, the process proceeds to step 475 and after the module to be updated is downloaded, the module already installed is deleted in step 476. The module and the program downloaded in step 477 are installed. After installing the program, proceed to step 478 to access the module management server 211, and in step 479, notify the program installation information so that the module management server 211 can manage the program information table for each user, and then set-top. The box module information table 331 is modified.

According to the present invention as described above, only software having a function desired by a user can be automatically and manually installed and updated among various softwares provided by the digital IP broadcasting service provider, thereby enabling user-oriented service. In addition, since the software of the set-top box is managed for each module, it is possible to partially install and update the module for each module and to reduce the amount of network data transmission and storage.

Claims (4)

A module information table including information on a plurality of modules and the plurality of modules provided in the set-top box for digital IP broadcasting by receiving the update data from a module management server for maintaining data for updating the plurality of modules. As a way to update the program, i) the set-top box requesting and receiving a module information table for the plurality of modules from the module management server; ii) comparing the information on the plurality of modules in the received module information table with the information on the plurality of modules held by the set top box; iii) requesting and receiving update data for the module that is not the latest from the module management server if the module maintained in the set-top box is not the latest module as a result of the comparison; And iv) updating the non-latest module of the set-top box by using the received update data. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting the information table for the module maintained by the module management server comprises: The set-top box program update method is performed by a user's instruction of the set-top box, or when the set-top box is set in advance or when the set-top box is in the standby mode. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the received module information table with information of a module maintained in the set-top box and requesting the update data comprises: Displaying information of a module maintained in the set top box and the received module information table; And The user of the set-top box further comprises the step of selecting at least one module to update based on the displayed information. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, If a failure occurs in the set-top box, the program updating method of the set-top box further comprising the step of reinstalling the module in the failure of the plurality of modules of the set-top box to the module before the failure.

Images