Automatic software update detection and flexible installer for set-top boxes

1. A method of updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to a current software version, wherein the set-top box comprises a tuner and a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version; and

downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version;

wherein the step of automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version comprises the step of executing a predetermined instruction set of bootstrap loader software upon a set top box reset; and

wherein the step of downloading data comprises the steps of:

determining if the tuner receives a first signal; and

if the tuner does not receive the first signal, automatically downloading the data comprising at least a portion of the current software version via the modem.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set top box reset includes a power up reset, a hardware reset, and a software reset.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined instruction set includes a first instruction of the bootstrap loader software.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bootstrap loader software includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of executing the predetermined instruction set comprises the steps of

checking for a broadcast announcement of the current software version; and

comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version comprises the steps of:

determining an identity of the set-top box;

determining the current software version from the identity of the set top box and from information transmitted in the broadcast announcement; and

comparing the resident software version to the current software version.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes an announcement time; and

the step of downloading the data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version is performed only if the current software version is received within a time period of the broadcast announcement time.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of resetting the set top box if the current software version is not received within the time period.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes a download time; and

the step of downloading the data comprising the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version is performed by performing the step of resetting the set top box prior to the download time.

10. A method of updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to a current software version, wherein the set-top box comprises a tuner and a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version; and

downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version;

wherein the downloaded data includes a first sub-portion comprising the at least a portion of the current software version and a second sub-portion comprising executable code for installing the at least a portion of the current software version;

wherein the second sub-portion comprises instructions for decompressing the at least a portion of the current software version; and

wherein the step of downloading data comprises the steps of:

determining if the tuner receives a first signal; and

if the tuner does not receive the first signal, automatically downloading the data comprising at least a portion of the current software version via the modem.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set top box.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version is performed by the predetermined instruction set.

13. A system for updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to an updated software version, comprising:

a bootstrap loader having an automatically performed instruction set for determining whether the resident software version is the current software version and for downloading data including at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version, wherein the instruction set is performed upon a set top box reset; and

a memory for storing the current software version;

the set-top box comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first signal having the downloaded data;

a processor for determining if the tuner receives the first signal; and

a modem for receiving the downloaded data if the tuner does not receive the first signal.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the set top box reset includes a power up reset, a hardware reset, and a software reset.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the automatically performed instruction set includes a first instruction of the bootstrap loader.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the bootstrap loader includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the instruction set includes:

one or more instructions for checking a broadcast announcement of the current software version; and

one or more instructions for comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more instructions for comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version comprises:

one or more instructions for determining an identity of the set-top box;

one or more instructions for determining the current software version from the identity of the set top box and from information transmitted in the broadcast announcement; and

one or more instructions for comparing the resident software version to the current software version.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes an announcement time; and

the bootstrap loader downloads the data including at least a portion of the current software version only if the current software version is received within a time period of the broadcast announcement time.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes a download time; and

the bootstrap loader downloads the data by resetting the set top box prior to the download time.

21. A system for updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to an updated software version, comprising:

a bootstrap loader having an automatically performed instruction set for determining whether the resident software version is the current software version and for downloading data including at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version; and

a memory for storing the current software version;

wherein the downloaded data includes a first sub-portion comprising the at least a portion of the current software version and a second sub-portion comprising executable code for installing the at least a portion of the current software version;

the set-top box comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first signal having the downloaded data;

a processor for determining if the tuner receives the first signal; and

a modem for receiving the downloaded data if the tuner does not receive the first signal.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set top box, and the first sub portion is stored in a flash memory of the set top box.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the second sub-portion comprises instructions for decompressing the at least a portion of the current software version.

24. An apparatus for updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to a current software version, comprising:

means for automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version; and

means for downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version;

wherein the means for automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version comprises means for executing a predetermined instruction set of bootstrap loader software upon a set top box reset;

the set-top box comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first signal having the downloaded data;

means for determining if the tuner does not receive the first signal; and

a modem for receiving the downloaded data if the first means does not receive the first signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the set top box reset includes a power up reset, a hardware reset, and a software reset.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the predetermined instruction includes a first instruction of the bootstrap loader software.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the bootstrap loader includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the means for executing the predetermined instruction set comprises:

means for checking for a broadcast announcement of the current software version; and

means for comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the means for comparing the announced current software version to the resident software version comprises:

means for determining an identity of the set-top box; and

means for determining the current software version from the identity of the set top box and from information transmitted in the broadcast announcement; and

means for comparing the resident software version to the current software version.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes an announcement time; and

the means for downloading the data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version downloads the data only if the current software version is received within a time period of the broadcast announcement time.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 , further comprising means for resetting the set top box if the current software version is not received within the time period.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes a download time; and

the means for downloading the data comprising the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version comprises means for setting the set top box prior to the download time.

33. An apparatus for updating set top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of a set-top box to a current software version, comprising:

means for automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version; and

means for downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version;

wherein the downloaded data includes a first sub-portion comprising the at least a portion of the current software version and a second sub-portion comprising executable code for installing the at least a portion of the current software version;

the set-top box comprising:

a tuner for receiving a first signal having the downloaded data;

means for determining if the tuner does not receive the first signal; and

a modem for receiving the downloaded data if the tuner does not receive the first signal.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set top box.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the second sub-portion comprises instructions for decompressing the at least a portion of the current software version.

36. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the means for downloading data comprising at least a portion of the current software version if the resident software version is not the current software version comprises the predetermined instruction set.

37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tuner for receiving tuner receives program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material, and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.

38. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tuner receives program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.

39. The system of claim 13 , wherein the tuner is configured to receive program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.

40. The system of claim 21 , wherein the tuner is configured to receive program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.

41. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising:

a means for receiving program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.

42. The apparatus of claim 33 , further comprising:

a means for receiving program material and a program guide describing schedule information for the program material and wherein the downloaded data is received as data objects in the program guide.