KR100672524B1 - Downloading method of program for upgrade - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention attempts to download an upgrade program by simultaneously connecting an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) to a server to prevent a slowdown or a server crash and to provide a fair upgrade opportunity for digital cable TV users. For the purpose of, an upgrade program for a digital receiver is developed to generate an upgrade program on a server, and a plurality of corresponding digital receivers requiring the generated upgrade program are classified into a plurality of groups having at least one or more. A classification step, a setting step of distributing and setting the downloadable time within the downloadable date and time defined for each of the classified groups, and a sending step for sending a message indicating that an upgrade program has been generated to the corresponding digital receiver. And the digital receiver when the group is at that time the network TCP / IP address being assigned to the connection with the server for the upgrade program stored in there makin comprises a performing step of performing the download process.

Digital Cable TV, Upgrade Program, Cable Line

Description

Downloading method of program for upgrade}

1 is a diagram illustrating a concept for a program download procedure of a general satellite broadcasting;

2 to 4 illustrate an example of a message that an IRD informs a user of a general software upgrade in FIG.

5 is a diagram illustrating a concept for a program download procedure of a general digital cable broadcasting.

6 is a diagram showing the structure of a typical digital cable TV;

7 is a flowchart illustrating an efficient download method of an upgrade program in a digital cable broadcast according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10, 40: server 20: satellite

30, 60: digital receiver 50: cable line

62: Tuner 64: OOB

66: DOCSIS Modem

The present invention relates to digital broadcasting, and more particularly, to an efficient download method of an upgrade program in a digital cable TV.

In general, digital cable TV or digital satellite STB has the function to upgrade the program to apply new functions or correct the problems even after the product is sold, and is upgraded by the following method.

First, in the case of the digital satellite STB, new software is downloaded from the satellite, and software in the integrated receiver decoder (IRD) is upgraded. This function is called a decision support system (DSS) download.

However, before uploading the upgraded code image from the satellite, the preprocessing process, the uploading procedure, the announcement that pre-broadcasts the information of the download, the Download, the IRD code update process, and the like. Exception handling

1 is a diagram illustrating a concept for a program download procedure of a general satellite broadcast.

Referring to FIG. 1, since the program to be downloaded is transmitted unidirectionally from the satellite to the IRD, the IRD can upgrade the IRD by transmitting a current status message to users and receiving the program. All.

2 to 4 are diagrams showing an example of a message notified to the user by the IRD for the general software upgrade in FIG.

2 is a message confirming whether software upgrade is possible, FIG. 3 is a message indicating that the software upgrade has started, and FIG. 4 shows a message when a problem occurs during the software upgrade as an example. The IRD will notify the users.

On the other hand, the digital cable TV is similar to the digital satellite STB (IRD) in terms of the overall concept, but greatly different in the data transmission medium.

5 is a diagram illustrating a concept for a program download procedure of a general digital cable broadcasting.

Referring to FIG. 5, the digital cable broadcasting can transmit / receive bidirectionally for data transmission, thereby enabling an internet service function. However, due to the fixed bandwidth, if multiple people use it at the same time, there may be a problem of slowing down or server down.

That is, in the case of satellite broadcasting, as shown in FIG. 1, the program to be downloaded from the server 10 is transmitted unilaterally to the IRD through the satellite. The IRD then determines whether the upgrade program transmitted via satellite from the set-top box is necessary for its digital satellite TV. As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the program is necessary to upgrade the digital satellite TV, the upgrade is received and upgraded. If not, the upgrade program transmitted is ignored.

However, since the digital cable TV transmits and receives data in both directions using a tuner and an OOB / DOCSIS modem through a cable line as shown in FIG. 6, due to the limited bandwidth of the cable line, the server unilaterally broadcasts an upgrade program ( Only the information message of the upgrade program is transmitted. Then, from the IRD's point of view, it is determined whether the upgrade program transmitted through the cable line in the set-top box is a program required by the digital cable TV. If it is determined that the program required for the upgrade to his digital cable TV is connected to the server via the cable line, the upgrade program is downloaded, and if not applicable, the upgrade program is ignored.

Therefore, since the digital cable TV attempts to download the program by simultaneously connecting to the server to download the upgrade program, the digital cable TV is slowed down due to the simultaneous connection or even worse, the server is down.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to efficiently download an upgrade program in digital broadcasting.

Another object of the present invention is an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) connected to the server at the same time to try to download the upgrade program to prevent the slow down or server down phenomenon and upgrade the fair opportunity for digital cable TV users The purpose is to provide a method for properly downloading by providing a.

Features of the efficient download method of the upgrade program according to the present invention for achieving the above object is the development step of the upgrade program for the digital receiver is developed and the upgrade program is generated on the server, the generated upgrade program is required A classification step of classifying a plurality of corresponding digital receivers into a plurality of groups having at least one; a setting step of distributing and setting a downloadable time within a downloadable date and time defined for each classified group; Sending a message indicating that an upgrade program has been generated to the corresponding digital receiver, and the digital receiver receives a TCP / IP address from the network and connects to the server where the upgrade program is stored. It comprises the performing step to perform.

Preferably, the classifying step includes defining a downloadable date and time.

Preferably, the classifying step is characterized by classifying into a plurality of groups using a serial number unique to the digital receiver.

Preferably, the setting may include rearranging the downloadable time in a random order whenever the defined downloadable date is changed.

Preferably, the message may include an IP of a downloadable server and downloadable time information.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of a method for downloading an upgrade program in digital cable broadcasting according to the present invention will be described below.

7 is a flowchart illustrating an efficient download method of an upgrade program in digital cable broadcasting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, if an upgrade program for a digital cable TV is developed first and an upgrade program is generated on the server (S10), the server may classify a plurality of corresponding digital cable TVs to be upgraded into a plurality of groups and set a downloadable date and time. Define (S20).

At this time, since the digital cable TV has a unique serial number, the server uses it to classify into a plurality of groups. In addition, the downloadable time is appropriately distributed within the downloadable date and time defined for each group classified as described above (S30).

As an example, as shown in Table 1, a program download time table for upgrading a digital cable TV may be configured for each date. In Table 1, the downloadable date is defined as 10 days from 12/1 to 12/10, and the downloadable time is defined as 5 hours from 1:00 am to 6:00 am (AM). In this case, the criterion for defining the downloadable time is preferably to define the downloadable time in a time zone where the cable line is least used.

TABLE 1

Downloadable date: Dec 01-Dec 10

Downloadable time: AM 1:00 AM ~ 6:00 AM

Scheduled to download Random Cable TV S / N Scheduled download time Dec 01 1 group 2 group 3 group 4 group 5 group 1, 6, 11, ... 2, 7, 12, ... 3, 8, 13, ... 4, 9, 14, ... 5, 10, 15, ... AM 1:00 to AM 1:59 AM 2:00 to AM 2:59 AM 3:00 to AM 3:59 AM 4:00 to AM 4:59 AM 5:00 to AM 5:59

Scheduled to download Random Cable TV S / N Scheduled download time December 02 4 groups 2 groups 3 groups 1 groups 5 groups 4, 9, 14, ... 2, 7, 12, ... 3, 8, 13, ... 1, 6, 11, ... 5, 10, 15, ... AM 1:00 to AM 1:59 AM 2:00 to AM 2:59 AM 3:00 to AM 3:59 AM 4:00 to AM 4:59 AM 5:00 to AM 5:59

...

Scheduled to download Random Cable TV S / N Scheduled download time December 10 1 group 2 group 4 group 5 group 3 group 1, 6, 11, ... 2, 7, 12, ... 4, 9, 14, ... 5, 10, 15, ... 3, 8, 13, ... AM 1:00 to AM 1:59 AM 2:00 to AM 2:59 AM 3:00 to AM 3:59 AM 4:00 to AM 4:59 AM 5:00 to AM 5:59

As shown in Table 1, first, the serial number of the digital cable TV is calculated as a module 5 to divide the digital cable TV to upgrade the program into five groups. The downloadable time is divided into 5 groups, and then the download time is distributed by groups.

In addition, the server rearranges the downloadable time for each digital cable TV group in a random order whenever the defined downloadable date is changed, thereby providing downloadable time for each digital cable TV in various time zones for convenience in downloading an upgraded program. Is raising.

When the classification is completed into a plurality of groups in which the download time is properly distributed using the serial number unique to the digital cable TV, a message indicating that an upgrade program has been generated is transmitted to the corresponding digital cable TV (S40). At this time, the digital cable TV obtains the downloadable server's IP, downloadable time information, etc. through the message sent from the server.

Subsequently, when the corresponding time is reached, the digital cable TV is assigned a TCP / IP address in a network using a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and is connected to a server storing an upgrade program to perform a download procedure (S50).

At this time, the DHCP is a common protocol that can manage a certain range of the TCP / IP address of the client system existing on the network, the DHCP server is assigned a range of a predetermined TCP / IP address, DHCP server Will dynamically assign addresses to client systems as needed.

In this way, the appropriate download time is allocated to all digital cable TV sides, and the corresponding digital cable TV can connect to the server via the cable line and download the upgrade program at the allocated time.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

As described above, the download method of the upgrade program according to the present invention applies an efficient download method of the upgrade program in the digital cable TV, so that the digital cable TV simultaneously accesses the server for the program upgrade, thereby slowing down the network speed or the server. This can provide a way to properly download by preventing downtime and providing a fair upgrade opportunity for digital cable TV users.

Claims (9)

When the upgrade program for the digital receiver is generated and stored in the server, the server classifies the digital receiver into a plurality of groups by using a unique serial number of the digital receivers that require the upgrade program. , A setting step of distributing and setting the downloadable date and time for each classified group; A sending step of sending a message indicating that an upgrade program has been generated to the digital receiver; The download method of the digital receiver comprises the step of performing a download procedure is assigned a TCP / IP address in the network and connected to the server where the upgrade program is stored when the downloadable date and time is reached . The method of claim 1, The setting step is a download method of the upgrade program, characterized in that the downloadable time from the corresponding downloadable date is different for each group. delete delete The method of claim 1, The downloadable time is a download method of the upgrade program, characterized in that the time set to use the least connection line. delete The method of claim 1, The setting step may further include rearranging the downloadable time in a random order each time the downloadable date is changed. The method of claim 1, The message download method of the upgrade program, characterized in that it includes the downloadable server IP, downloadable time information. The method of claim 1, The performing step is a download method of the upgrade program, characterized in that connected to the server using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Images