CN100429885C - Software updating method between set-top boxes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for updating software between set-top boxes. The set-top boxes are connected to each other through a fixed communication channel such as DDC CI. Through setting, data transmission and reception can be realized between each other, and software updates between the set-top boxes can be performed quickly. For this reason, the present invention realizes the update of software by the following several steps: the 1st step, in order to according to user's updating order, from set-top box, receive the software of main set-top box and relevant data thereof from above-mentioned main set-top box, to the fixed The communication port is activated; the second step is to confirm whether data can be sent and received between the slave set-top box and the above-mentioned host top box through the fixed communication port activated in the first step above, and switch to the software update mode that has been set; the second step Step 3, due to switching from the set-top box to the software update mode in the second step above, while waiting for the software to be received from the host top box, receive the locked software through the communication channel activated in the first step above; Step 4, Update the above-mentioned related software that has been set from the set-top box to the software received in the above-mentioned step 3.

Description

Software update method between set-top boxes

【Technical field】

The present invention relates to the software updating method between set-top boxes, specifically, the set-top boxes are connected with each other through fixed communication channels such as DDC CI, by setting, data transmission and reception can be realized mutually, and the set-top boxes can be carried out quickly each other. Software update.

【Background technique】

Recently, as digital TV has entered people's daily life, various set-top boxes have been developed and sold accordingly. The set-top boxes can receive news, weather forecasts, stock market quotes, advertisements and other information from TV stations in the form of application software, and update them. It is decoded and then provided to the user, which can provide the user with various services such as the start time or end time of the current or next program, or the summary of the current or next TV program, etc. TV program related information.

In order to realize this kind of service, the set-top box needs certain software support. It usually receives relevant data through radio or optical cable, and then implements an update to the software, or downloads the update software from the PC through the serial interface of RS 232-C, implements renew.

However, although OTA is a simple way to update the software in the set-top box, when the TV data stream is difficult to receive or cannot be received, the software itself is very difficult to receive, or even if the relevant software is received, when using it to update the software, it will be difficult. A system error occurs, or when using RS-232C to update, it will take a long time.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, an improved update method is required, so that the required software in the set-top box can be updated in a relatively fast time even if the TV reception is difficult.

【Content of invention】

Therefore, the present invention has been developed in order to meet the above-mentioned needs, and one of its objects is to provide a system that can update the required software in the set-top box in a relatively short period of time even when TV reception is relatively difficult. A method for updating software between set-top boxes.

According to this purpose, the present invention wants to make the set-top boxes connect each other through such fixed communication channels as DDC CI, by setting, data transmission and reception can be realized mutually, and the set-top boxes can quickly carry out software updates each other.

For this reason, the present invention realizes the software update between set-top boxes by following four steps:

The 1st step, from (Slave) set-top box in order to receive the software of master top box and related data thereof from above-mentioned master (Master) set-top box according to user's update command, activate the fixed communication port that is connected together;

In the second step, through the fixed communication port activated in the first step above, confirm whether data can be sent and received between the slave set-top box and the above-mentioned host top-box, and switch to the software update mode that has been set;

In the third step, due to the switch from the set-top box to the software update mode in the above-mentioned second step, during the process of waiting for the software to be received from the main set-top box, the locked software is received through the communication channel activated in the above-mentioned first step;

The fourth step is to update the relevant software set in the above-mentioned slave set-top box to the software received in the above-mentioned third step.

Moreover, the present invention additionally comprises the following steps:

In step 5, the master top box activates the communication port connected to the slave set top box according to the update command of the user;

Step 6, through the communication port activated in step 5 above, confirm whether data can be sent and received between the master set-top box and the slave set-top box, and then switch to the software upload mode that has been set;

In the seventh step, following the above-mentioned sixth step, the host top box switches to the software upload mode, detects the stored software, and transmits the detected software to the slave set-top box through the communication port activated in the above-mentioned fifth step.

As mentioned above, the software update method between the set-top boxes of the present invention has the following effects: it can realize the sending and receiving of software between the set-top boxes, and when necessary, it can be updated, especially the communication channel between the master set-top box and the slave set-top box uses DDC Communication channels such as CI can improve the update speed.

【Description of drawings】

Figure 1a is a conceptual diagram showing a system employing the present invention,

Figure 1b is a drawing showing the overall sequence of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the set-top box adopting the present invention by way of example,

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the implementation of software update in the set-top box of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the implementation of software update in the set top box of the present invention.

【Detailed ways】

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

First, referring to FIG. 1 a , the connection form of the master top box 100 and the slave set top box 200 in the software update method between the set top boxes of the present invention is illustrated as an example. The present invention comprises following two parts:

Host top box 100 for uploading software;

According to the software uploaded by the host top box 100, the relevant software is updated from the slave set top box 200.

Between the two, through the display data channel common interface (Display Data Channel Common Interface, hereinafter referred to as DDC

CI), especially the host top box and the slave set-top box through the Insert Square of DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

Line——DDC communication channels are connected to each other, and the software uploading method of the present invention is realized through the master top box and the slave set top box connected in this way according to the sequence shown in FIG. 1 b.

That is, the implementation process of the method of the present invention is as follows: the communication channel DDC CILine that the host top box 100 and the slave set top box 200 are connected to each other is activated as any level (1) that has been set in a low or high level; communication channel, the set-top box 100 transmits a polling (polling) signal (2); After the connection with the slave set-top box 200 is realized, the software is uploaded (4), and the slave set-top box 200 will transmit a response message (5) when the transmission ends or an abnormal situation occurs. Each step will be described in detail later.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a master STB 100 and a slave STB 200 using the method for updating software between STBs of the present invention.

At first, as shown in Figure 2, adopted the main set-top box 100 of the present invention to comprise and be made of the following components:

Multiple communication interfaces (110-1, 100-2, ...) activated and docked through external devices and their respective communication ports and channels;

A communication docking control device 120 for selectively activating any one of the above-mentioned multiple communication interfaces;

the main software storage device 130 storing the software used by the present invention;

The software separated from the transmission packet stream is stored in the above-mentioned main software storage device 130, and it is read according to the user's command, and the set-top box software manager 140 for overall management of the above-mentioned software:

The main top box microcomputer 150 for overall control and management of the related main top box system:

A tuner 160 for receiving the TV program delivery packet stream via the antenna;

A transport packet stream decoder 170 for VSB (Vestigial SideBand)/QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) decoding of the TV program transport packet stream received by the tuner 160;

transport stream demultiplexer 180 for separating the decoded television program transport stream into audio/video data and television schedule information;

A video and audio processing unit 190 for separately processing the audio/video data separated in the above-mentioned transport packet stream demultiplexer 180 and outputting video and audio information respectively.

Through the above configuration, the transport packet stream received by the host top box of the present invention through the tuner 160 is decoded in the transport packet stream decoder 170, and in order to drive the set-top box in the transport packet stream demultiplexer 180, necessary The set-top box software manager 140 stores the software separated by the above-mentioned transport packet stream demultiplexer 180 in the main software storage device 130 under the control of the host top box microcomputer 150 .

In this state, the MSTB microcomputer 150 switches the system mode to the software upload mode according to an externally input user command, and the STB software manager 140, under the control of the above-mentioned MSTB microcomputer 150, according to the externally input user command command to read the software stored in the above-mentioned main software storage device 130 .

Then, under the control of the master top box microcomputer 150, the communication docking control device 120 selectively activates the communication interface 110-1 connected to the slave set top box among the multiple communication interfaces, and the activated communication interface 110-1 will take turns Inquiry signal is transmitted to slave set-top box 200, and judges whether to carry out data transmission and reception, set-top box software manager 140 receives this response signal through judging from above-mentioned slave set-top box, then set-top box software manager 140 is under the control of host top box microcomputer 150 Next, the software read from the master software storage device 130 is transmitted to the slave set-top box 200 through the activated communication interface 110-1.

In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the set-top box 200 adopting the present invention is composed of the following components:

Multiple communication interfaces (210-1, 210-2, ...) activated and docked through external devices and their respective communication ports and channels;

A communication docking control device 220 for selectively activating any one of the above-mentioned multiple communication interfaces (110-1, 100-2, ...);

The slave software storage device 230 that stores the software transmitted from the master (Master) to the slave (Slave);

The software separated from the transmission packet stream and the software transmitted from the above-mentioned master and slave 100 are stored in the master software storage device 230, and are read according to user commands, etc., and the set-top box software management for the overall management of the software device 240;

From the set-top box microcomputer 250 that performs overall control and management of the system of the relevant mainframe top box:

A tuner 260 for receiving a packetized stream of television programs delivered via an antenna;

The transport packet stream decoder 270 for VSB (Vestigial SideBand)/QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) decoding of the TV program transport packet stream received by the tuner 160;

transport stream demultiplexer 280 for separating the decoded television program transport stream into audio/video data and television schedule information;

A video and audio processing device 290 for separately processing the audio/video data separated in the above-mentioned transport packet stream demultiplexer 180, and outputting video and audio information respectively.

In adopting the slave set-top box 200 of the present invention, the slave set-top box microcomputer 250 generates and outputs a control signal according to the user update command input from the outside, and the communication docking control device 220 is under the control of the above-mentioned slave set-top box microcomputer 250. Among the communication interfaces, the communication interface 210-1 connected with the host top box 100 is selectively activated, and the activated communication interface 210-1 waits for the polling signal sent from the host top box 100, and when receiving the polling signal, Under the control of the slave microcomputer 250, a corresponding response signal will be output, and according to the above-mentioned conversion of the update mode of the slave microcomputer 250, it will wait to receive the software sent by the host top box.

Therefore, after receiving the software from the above-mentioned set-top box 100, the slave software manager 240 updates the relevant software originally set from the software storage device 230 to the above-mentioned received software. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the method for updating software between set-top boxes of the present invention will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the implementation of software update in the slave set-top box of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the process of realizing the software update of the present invention from the set-top box is as follows.

First, wait for the user's update command (step S300) from the set-top box, when the user's update command is input from the outside (step S301), in order to receive the software of the set-top box and its related data from the set-top box, a communication channel will be performed. connection, and detect the activation of the communication port (step S302), activate it to set the enable (ENABLE) signal (step S303).

Then, through the communication port activated in the step (step S303), confirm whether the slave set-top box can send and receive data with the above-mentioned host top box, and switch its mode to the set software update mode (step S307). That is, by the communication port activated in the step (step S303), the slave set-top box waits for the polling signal (step S304) transmitted from the host top box, and when receiving the polling signal (step S305) from the host top box, will correspond to it The response signal is sent to the host top box, and switched to the software update mode (step S307).

After switching to the software update mode from the set-top box in the step (step S307), the slave set-top box waits to receive software from the host top box (step S308), and receives the software sent by the host top box through the communication port activated in the above-mentioned steps (step S303). (step S309), and judge whether relevant software has abnormality (step S310), when the judging result of step (step S310) is that there is abnormality in the software that step (step S309) receives, send request again to the host top box Send the information of software, to receive software from host top box again, otherwise, if the judgment result of step (step S310) is when the software that receives in the step (step S309) does not have abnormal situation, will send the information that software transmits successfully to host top box .

Finally, it is judged whether the software received in the step (step S309) is the same type of software as the previously set software, and the judgment result of the step (step S314) is that the currently received software is the same type of software as the previously set software , the previously set software is updated to the software received in the step (step S309), when the judgment result of the step (step S314) is that the same type of software has not been set, in order to set it, it is stored in addition In the storage device that has been set (step S316), the present invention is ended according to the user's end command (step S316).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the implementation of software update in the set top box of the present invention.

First, as shown in Figure 4, the master top box waits for the user's update command (step S400), and when the user's update command is input from the outside (step S401), it detects whether the communication port connected with the slave set-top box through the communication channel is blocked. Activation (step S402), if not activated, activate the relevant communication port to an enabling signal corresponding to any one of the high or low levels that has been set (step S403).

Through the communication port activated in the step (step S403), confirm that data can be sent and received with the slave set-top box, and switch to the set software upload mode. That is, by the communication port activated in the step (step S403), the polling signal is transmitted to the slave set-top box (step S404), and the master top box waits for the polling signal (step S405) transmitted from the slave set-top box, and then receives the polling signal from the slave set-top box. When the polling signal is received (step S406), the host top box will switch to the software upload mode (step S409), otherwise, if the preset time period (step S407) has passed, the response information has not been received from the set top box, The system performs default settings (step S408).

Then, in the step (step S409), after the host top box has switched to the software upload mode, the software stored in the host top box is detected (step S410), and the step (step S410) is activated by the communication port of the step (step S403). ) is transmitted to the slave set-top box (step S411), when receiving the information of successful transmission (step S412), execute the step (step S400), when not receiving the information of successful transmission in the step (step S412), if After the preset time period (step S413), the system performs default setting (step S408), and ends the present invention.

Finally, in the present invention, in order to drive the set-top box, the slave set-top box has received the necessary software from the host top box, and can update it, especially the communication channel between the host top box and the slave set-top box uses a communication channel such as DDC CI, so it can be faster The software is transferred from the master top box to the slave set top box efficiently, thereby improving the update speed.

Through the above description, relevant staff can make various changes or modifications without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the content recorded in the examples, and its technical scope must be determined according to the scope of patent calls.

Claims (3)

1, the Oftware updating method between the set-top box comprises:

The 1st step for the update command according to the user, receives the software and the related data thereof of primary set-top box from set-top box from primary set-top box, the fixed communication port that links together is activated;

Can the 2nd step by the fixed communication port that activates in described the 1st step, be confirmed to send and receive from carrying out data between set-top box and the described primary set-top box, and switched to the software upgrading pattern of having set;

The 3rd step owing to switch to the software upgrading pattern from set-top box in described the 2nd step, in waiting for the process of carrying out the software reception from primary set-top box, by the communication channel that activates in described the 1st step, receives the software that sets;

The 4th step is updated to the software that receives described the 3rd step with the described related software of having set from set-top box,

Described communication port has been used the communication port of utilizing display data channel common interface DDC CI to connect.

2, the Oftware updating method between the set-top box as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that:

The 5th step, primary set-top box activate and the communication port that links to each other from set-top box according to user's update command;

Can the 6th step by the communication port that activates in described the 5th step, be confirmed primary set-top box and from carrying out the data transmission between the set-top box and receiving, switched to the software upload pattern of having set that sets then;

The 7th step, in described the 6th step, primary set-top box switches to the software upload pattern, detects the software that sets stored, and by the communication port that activates in described the 5th step, the software that sets of described detection is sent to from set-top box.

3, the Oftware updating method between the set-top box as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described the 2nd step comprises:

The 2-1 step by the communication port that activates in described the 1st step, is waited for the polling signal that sends from described primary set-top box from set-top box;

Can the 2-2 step in described 2-1 step, when primary set-top box has received polling signal, carry out the answer signal that data send and receive smoothly from set-top box and be sent to primary set-top box, and switch to the software upgrading pattern of having set.

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