Method and system for downloading and managing the enablement of a list of code objects

Abstract

A method and system manages and controls the download of programming, i.e., code objects, to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service that may arise if only some of the objects specified are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications. When the message to download new or additional code objects lists two or more objects to be acquired, the set-top terminal will only enable and execute downloaded objects if all the listed objects are successfully acquired. If only some of the objects the terminal has been instructed to download are acquired, those downloaded objects may either be purged or stored in memory without being enabled and executed. The system operator may specify in the message instructing the terminal to acquire new objects, whether the listed objects must be implemented as a group or not at all. The system operator may similarly specify if objects from an incomplete download are to be purged from memory.

1 . A method of managing and controlling a download of programming code objects to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service by the set-top terminal that may arise said if only some of a list of code objects specified in a download instruction message are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications, the method comprising conditionally preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt of said download instruction message unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, said method further comprises enabling all said listed code objects at the same time.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message, unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, is performed in response to a list-only enable flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising enabling and executing any code objects downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message if said list-only enable flag in said download instruction message is positive.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are not received by said set-top terminal, said method further comprises purging from memory all code objects downloaded by said set-top terminal in response to receipt of said download instruction message.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said purging is only performed in response to an auto purge flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         7 . A system for managing and controlling a download of programming code objects to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service by the set-top terminal that may arise said if only some of a list of code objects specified in a download instruction message are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving said download instruction message in said set-top terminal; and    means for conditionally preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt of said download instruction message unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, said set-top terminal enables all said listed code objects at the same time.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said means for conditionally preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message, unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, further comprises means for reading a list-only enable flag contained in said download instruction message, wherein said means for conditionally preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing code objects operates in response to said list-only enable flag.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising means for enabling and executing any code objects downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message if said list-only enable flag in said download instruction message is negative.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising means for purging from memory all code objects downloaded by said set-top terminal in response to receipt of said download instruction message if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are not received by said set-top terminal.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for reading an auto purge flag contained in said downloaded instruction message; wherein said means for purging operates in response to said auto purge flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         13 . A system for managing and controlling a download of programming code objects to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service by the set-top terminal that may arise said if only some of a list of code objects specified in a download instruction message are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications, the system comprising: 
 at least one set-top terminal connected to said cable television system for receiving a data signal from a system headend, said set-top terminal comprising a processor for executing programming, a memory for storing data and programming and a tuner for providing said data signal to said processor, wherein said set-top terminal can download code objects from said data signal; and    said system headend comprising a processor and transmitter for transmitting to said at least one set-top terminal a download instruction message instructing said set-top terminal to download from said data signal a list of code objects;    wherein said set-top terminal conditionally does not enable or execute any code object downloaded in response to receipt of said download instruction message unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said set-top terminal enables all downloaded code objects at the same time if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said download instruction message comprises a list-only enable flag; and    said set-top terminal responds to said list-only enable flag to determine whether to enable and execute any code object downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said set-top terminal enables and executes any code objects downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message if said list-only enable flag in said download instruction message is negative.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein, if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are not received by said set-top terminal, said set-top terminal purges from memory all code objects downloaded by said set-top terminal in response to receipt of said download instruction message.  
     
     
         18 . (cancelled)  
     
     
         19 . A method of downloading programming code objects to a set-top terminal where two or more code objects are specified for download in a download instruction message received by said set-top terminal and wherein, if all objects specified in said download instruction message are not successfully downloaded, other downloaded object might not function properly or conflict with existing applications, the method comprising selectively executing said two or more code objects downloaded in response to receipt of said download instruction message only if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising executing said two or more code objects at the same time.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising preventing said set-top terminal from executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message, unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said selectively executing said two ore more code objects is performed in response to a list-only enable flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are not received by said set-top terminal, said method further comprises purging from memory all code objects downloaded by said set-top terminal in response to receipt of said download instruction message.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said purging is only performed in response to an auto purge flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         25 . A method of managing and controlling a download of programming code objects to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service by the set-top terminal that may arise said if only some of a list of code objects specified in a download instruction message are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications, the method comprising: 
 receiving a download instruction message containing a list of code objects to be downloaded;    attempting to downloading all said code objects from said list; and    preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any listed code object that has been downloaded unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are successfully downloaded by said set-top terminal.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, said method further comprises enabling all said listed code objects at the same time.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of preventing said set-top terminal from enabling and executing any code object downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message, unless all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are acquired by said set-top terminal, is performed in response to a list-only enable flag contained in said download instruction message.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising enabling and executing any code objects downloaded in response to receipt by said set-top terminal of said download instruction message if said list-only enable flag in said download instruction message is positive.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein, if all code objects listed for download in said download instruction message are not received by said set-top terminal, said method further comprises purging from memory all code objects downloaded by said set-top terminal in response to receipt of said download instruction message.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said purging is only performed in response to an auto purge flag contained in said download instruction message.