公开(公告)号：EP1142309A1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-10

申请号：EP99967424.5

申请日：1999-12-17

申请人： PowerTV, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A. ,  ASPROMONTE, Bill, J. ,  STALKER, Altan, J.

IPC分类号： H04N5/00 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G06F9/445

CPC分类号： H04N21/443 ,  G06F9/4406 ,  G06F11/1417

摘要： A computer-implemented method and apparatus for restoring operating systems within a set-top box system. The restoration provides for operating a first operating system in a first memory. An application program is operated in a second memory. The first operating system is stored in a second memory so that a second operating system is loaded into the first memory. When a predetermined condition which is associated with the second operating system is detected, the first operating system is loaded into the first memory in response to the detected predetermined condition. Such a system provides such non-limiting advantages to the set-top box as the ability to robustly recover from errors or anomalies associated with downloading an operating system.

公开(公告)号：EP1142307A1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-10

申请号：EP99966434.5

申请日：1999-12-17

申请人： PowerTV, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A.

IPC分类号： H04N5/00 ,  G06F9/46

CPC分类号： G06F9/4843 ,  G06F9/461 ,  H04N21/443

摘要： A computer-implemented thread is provided for communicating with other threads in a set-top box environment. The thread includes a stack, a thread control block, and a queue object. The thread's stack provides data storage for the thread, and the thread control block is utilized for storing context information related to the thread. The queue object is utilized for providing communications between the thread and another thread. A swap type detector can be provided for detecting a predetermined swap type for when the thread is swapped from the CPU. A register recorder partially stores the CPU state of the thread based upon the detected swap type of the thread. The register recorder also can perform a partial storage of the CPU state of the thread based upon a received interrupt service request.

摘要翻译： 提供计算机实现的线程用于与机顶盒环境中的其他线程进行通信。 该线程包括一个堆栈，一个线程控制块和一个队列对象。 线程的堆栈为线程提供数据存储，并且线程控制块用于存储与线程相关的上下文信息。 队列对象用于在线程和另一个线程之间提供通信。 交换类型检测器可以被提供用于当线程从CPU交换时检测预定的交换类型。 寄存器记录器根据检测到的线程交换类型部分存储线程的CPU状态。 寄存器还可以基于接收到的中断服务请求执行线程的CPU状态的部分存储。

公开(公告)号：EP1141827A1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-10

申请号：EP99966433.7

申请日：1999-12-17

申请人： PowerTV, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A.

IPC分类号： G06F9/46

CPC分类号： G06F9/4881

摘要： A computer-implemented method and apparatus for scheduling threads contained in a thread list. At least two of the threads have a priority indicative of scheduled executions for the two threads. The present invention performs the following steps during a transversal through the thread list: modifying the scheduled execution of at least two threads which have equivalent priorities; performing deadline processing for at least one of the threads; and checking for a predetermined error condition of at least one of the threads.

公开(公告)号：EP0870235A1

公开(公告)日：1998-10-14

申请号：EP96945247.0

申请日：1996-12-27

申请人： Powertv, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A. ,  FREEDMAN, Gordon, J.

IPC分类号： G06F9 ,  H04L29 ,  H04N7

CPC分类号： H04N21/4435 ,  G06F8/54 ,  G06F9/44521 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04N21/235 ,  H04N21/23614 ,  H04N21/435 ,  H04N21/4351 ,  H04N21/8166

摘要： A system for preprocessing computer programs before downloading them into terminals includes a packager (303) which processes certain information contained in compiled but unlinked programs (307). The packager (303) partially resolves undefined symbols and relocations based on knowledge of a dispatch table (310) in the destination terminal (302) and other information known prior to downloading process. Packager (303) determines sizes of separate code, data dispatch table and temporary symbol areas, incorporates this size information into a header (309d), and transmits a data stream including the header and the aforementioned areas, including partially resolved symbols, to one or more terminals such as home communication terminals (HCTs) in a cable television network. Each receiving terminal (302) extracts the size information and allocates only as much memory as is needed to store each of the separate areas, thus avoiding the need for temporary holding buffer. Receiving terminal thereafter relocates remaining executable instructions to prepare the computer program for execution.

公开(公告)号：EP0870235B1

公开(公告)日：2007-07-25

申请号：EP96945247.3

申请日：1996-12-27

申请人： Powertv, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A. ,  FREEDMAN, Gordon, J.

IPC分类号： G06F12/02 ,  G06F13/10 ,  G06F9/445

CPC分类号： H04N21/4435 ,  G06F8/54 ,  G06F9/44521 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04N21/235 ,  H04N21/23614 ,  H04N21/435 ,  H04N21/4351 ,  H04N21/8166

摘要： A system for preprocessing computer programs before downloading them into terminals includes a packager (303) which processes certain information contained in compiled but unlinked programs (307). The packager (303) partially resolves undefined symbols and relocations based on knowledge of a dispatch table (310) in the destination terminal (302) and other information known prior to downloading process. Packager (303) determines sizes of separate code, data dispatch table and temporary symbol areas, incorporates this size information into a header (309d), and transmits a data stream including the header and the aforementioned areas, including partially resolved symbols, to one or more terminals such as home communication terminals (HCTs) in a cable television network. Each receiving terminal (302) extracts the size information and allocates only as much memory as is needed to store each of the separate areas, thus avoiding the need for temporary holding buffer. Receiving terminal thereafter relocates remaining executable instructions to prepare the computer program for execution.

公开(公告)号：EP1142309B1

公开(公告)日：2003-03-12

申请号：EP99967424.5

申请日：1999-12-17

申请人： PowerTV, Inc.

发明人： HOUHA, James, A. ,  ASPROMONTE, Bill, J. ,  STALKER, Altan, J.

IPC分类号： H04N5/00 ,  G06F11/14 ,  G06F9/445

CPC分类号： H04N21/443 ,  G06F9/4406 ,  G06F11/1417

摘要： A computer-implemented method and apparatus for restoring operating systems within a set-top box system. The restoration provides for operating a first operating system in a first memory. An application program is operated in a second memory. The first operating system is stored in a second memory so that a second operating system is loaded into the first memory. When a predetermined condition which is associated with the second operating system is detected, the first operating system is loaded into the first memory in response to the detected predetermined condition. Such a system provides such non-limiting advantages to the set-top box as the ability to robustly recover from errors or anomalies associated with downloading an operating system.