Programming interface for configuring a television settop terminal
View Patent ↗A software interface ( 26 ) is provided to enable television settop middleware ( 14 ) and operating system (OS) software ( 16 ) to control and interact with core settop system software ( 20 ) in a subscriber television terminal to facilitate the provision of desirable digital television services, including service acquisition (e.g., acquisition of a pay-per-view movie), system information management, settop configuration and control, return path for polling, download capability, and non-volatile memory management.
1. A system comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code for providing an interface to core system software in a user terminal;
the terminal having means for executing said computer program code, and having operating system software selected from a plurality of alternative operating software environments;
wherein the computer program code is adapted to provide at least one application program interface (API) to enable middleware that mediates between an application program and the core system software to access a function of the terminal, and to enable the operating system software to access the function of the terminal;
the API being compatible with the plurality of alternative operating software environments;
wherein said function of the terminal comprises managing a configuration of the terminal.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises obtaining at least one of:
current terminal configuration information;
Electronic program guide (EPG) information;
current converter system status; and
a system timestamp with local time.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises at least one of:
registering a client for unsolicited system timestamp updates; and
canceling a registration for system timestamp updates.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises setting an output channel number for RF modulator hardware.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises setting the terminal to an On or Off state.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises switching between different utility outlet modes.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises selecting whether an RF signal is routed through the terminal or bypasses the terminal.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises setting a consumer's preferred language.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises managing privacy.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises searching for a currently loaded object and returning information thereof.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises at least one of:
preparing for an object to be written to memory, including allocating space for the object;
writing a portion of an object to memory; and
terminating writing to object memory for a specified object.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises obtaining contents of a specified object.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises removing at least one object from memory.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises purchasing a program.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises enabling a user of the terminal, following system star-up, to refresh a purchase callback function pointer for a specified program or package purchase.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises setting and/or checking a password.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises at least one of:
setting the password for an indicated time slot; and
verifying a indicated password for a particular time slot.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises retrieving at least one of:
memory size information for memory components of the terminal;
at least one of cable modem and DOCSIS option information;
the type of output channel in use by the terminal;
information regarding an IEEE 1394 interface installed in the terminal;
information regarding an Ethernet interface installed in the terminal;
information regarding a parallel port installed in the terminal;
information regarding the type of hard drive currently installed in the terminal; and
information regarding the type of platform and the version of the platform currently running in the terminal.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises diagnosing errors at the terminal.
20. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises indicating at least one of:
the last reset time, the type of reset that occurred and the last Fatal Error Log entry;
a Virtual Channel Table ID for the virtual channel table that is resident in the terminal;
a status of out-of-band stream components;
a status of a current in-band multiplex;
a unit address assigned to the terminal;
a status of a last attempted primary service acquisition;
a renewable security status;
a transmission status of a RF modem installed in the terminal;
a status for firmware loaded into flash memory and all versions of non-volatile code that are installed in the terminal; and
a memory configuration for the terminal.
21. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises returning a status of at least one of:
a USB port;
any installed devices;
an IEEE 1394 port;
an Ethernet port;
a parallel port;
an infra-red (IR) transmitter;
an IR keyboard;
an IR remote control;
a smart card;
a hard drive; and
a graphics system.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the function of the terminal comprises controlling a video output of the terminal.