System and method for supervised downloading of broadcast data

Abstract

There is disclosed a data processing system for receiving at least one of a user data file and an application program wirelessly transmitted from a central server. The data processing system comprises an RF transceiver for receiving in a forward channel blocks of data transmitted by the central server and transmitting to the central server in a reverse channel at least one of user input data and user commands. The blocks of data comprise the user data file and the application program. The data processing system further comprises a download controller for monitoring the received blocks of data and detecting therein corrupted data associated with a first block of data. The download controller, in response to the detection of the corrupted data, transmits to the central server via a wireline network a retransmission request capable of causing the central server to retransmit the first block of data.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A data processing system capable of receiving at least one of a user data file and an application program wirelessly transmitted from a central server, said data processing system comprising: 
 an RF transceiver capable of receiving in a forward channel blocks of data transmitted by said central server and transmitting to said central server in a reverse channel at least one of user input data and user commands, wherein said blocks of data comprise said at least one of a user data file and said application program; and    a download controller capable of monitoring said received blocks of data and detecting therein corrupted data associated with a first block of data, wherein said download controller, in response to said detection of said corrupted data, transmits to said central server via a wireline network a retransmission request capable of causing said central server to retransmit said first block of data.    
     
     
         2 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said central server retransmits said first block of data via said wireline network.  
     
     
         3 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said download controller is capable of detecting an omitted block of data from said received block of data.  
     
     
         4 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 3  wherein said download controller, in response to said detection of said omitted block of data, transmits to said central server via said wireline network a retransmission request capable of causing said central server to retransmit said omitted block of data.  
     
     
         5 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 4  wherein said central server retransmits said omitted block of data via said wireline network.  
     
     
         6 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said central server intermittently transmits said application program in said forward channel.  
     
     
         7 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said wireline network is a publicly switched telephone network.  
     
     
         8 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 1  wherein said wireline network is the Internet.  
     
     
         9 . A central server capable of broadcasting at least one of a user data file and an application program to a user data device, said central server comprising: 
 an RF transceiver capable of transmitting in a forward channel blocks of data associated with said at least one of a user data file and said application program and receiving in a reverse channel at least one of user input data and user commands; and    a broadcast controller capable of selectively corrupting a first block of data transmitted in said forward channel and receiving from a wireline network a retransmission request transmitted by said user data device requesting that said corrupted block of data be retransmitted to said user data device.    
     
     
         10 . The central server set forth in  claim 9  wherein said broadcast controller retransmits said first block of data via said wireline network.  
     
     
         11 . The central server set forth in  claim 9  wherein said broadcast controller is capable of omitting a block of data from said blocks of data transmitted in said forward channel.  
     
     
         12 . The central server set forth in  claim 11  wherein said broadcast controller is capable of receiving from said wireline network a retransmission request transmitted by said user data device requesting that said omitted block of data be retransmitted to said user data device.  
     
     
         13 . The central server set forth in  claim 12  wherein said broadcast controller retransmits said omitted block of data via said wireline network.  
     
     
         14 . The central server set forth in  claim 9  wherein said central server intermittently transmits said application program in said forward channel.  
     
     
         15 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 9  wherein said wireline network is a publicly switched telephone network.  
     
     
         16 . The data processing system set forth in  claim 9  wherein said wireline network is the Internet.  
     
     
         17 . For use in a data processing system, a method of downloading at least one of a user data file and an application program from a central server, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving in a forward channel blocks of data wirelessly transmitted by the central server, wherein the blocks of data comprise the at least one of a user data file and the application program;    transmitting to the central server in a reverse channel at least one of user input data and user commands;    monitoring the received blocks of data and detecting therein