Television operative to download new functional applications via an external software module and to execute the same without additional hardware
View Patent ↗A television includes a control section, an interface and an external software module. The control section includes a processor and an internal memory that is in communication with the processor. The internal memory stores original program instructions for use by the processor to operate the television in accordance with the original program instructions. The interface is accessible exteriorly of the television and is in communication with the control section. The external software module is connectable to the interface and stores additional application program instructions that are downloadable to the control section when the external software module is connected to the interface. The downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to function in a manner differently than any of the original program instructions. A method for adding new application program instructions to a television is also described.
1. A television, comprising:
a control section including a processor and an internal memory in communication with the processor, the internal memory storing original program instructions for use by the processor to operate the television in accordance with the original program instructions;
an interface accessible exteriorly of the television and in communication with the control section; and
an external software module connectable to and disconnectable from the interface such that, when the software module is connected to the interface, additional application program instructions are downloaded to the control section and, after the additional application program instructions are downloaded to the control section and the external software module is disconnected from the interface, the downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to function in a manner differently than any of the original program instructions,
wherein the downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to emulate a television-compatible hardware device,
wherein the downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to operate a widget,
wherein the external software module stores a memory file system containing loader scripts and
wherein the internal memory stores scanning program instructions for scanning the memory file system of the external software module for the loader scripts when the external software module is connected to the interface.
2. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the television-compatible hardware device includes at least one of a video/audio recorder and an audio amplifier.
3. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to function as a slide show presentation device.
4. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the downloaded additional application program instructions enable the television to function as a video game playing device.
5. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is a high performance microprocessor.
6. A television according to claim 5 , wherein the high performance microprocessor is operative to run a Linux operating system.
7. A television according to claim 6 , wherein, when the loader scripts are located, the loader scripts are used to add the additional application program instructions to the control section.
8. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the internal memory includes one of random access memory, dynamic random access memory and flash memory.
9. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the interface includes one of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) port and IEEE 1394.
10. A television according to claim 1 , wherein the external software module includes one of a hard disk drive, a ram disk, flash memory and a zip drive.