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

1. In a media distribution system comprising a media provider and a set-top box, a method updating set-top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of the set-top box to a current software version, the set-top box comprising a tuner for receiving one or more signals transmitted by the media provider and a modem, the method comprising the steps of:

after the set-top box is reset, 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, comprising the steps of:

determining if the tuner locks on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider; and

if the tuner does not lock on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider, automatically downloading the data comprising the at least a portion of the current software version via the modem to update the resident software version.

2. The method of claim 1 , 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 set-top box reset.

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

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined instruction set includes a first instruction of the bootstrap loader software.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bootstrap loader software includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

6. The method of claim 2 , 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.

7. The method of claim 6 , 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.

8. The method of claim 6 , 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.

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

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes a download time; and set top box is reset prior to the download time.

11. The method of claim 2 , 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.

12. The method of claim 1 , 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.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the set-top box comprises a random access memory and a flash memory;

the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set-top box; and

the second sub-portion comprises instructions for repartitioning the flash memory.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second sub-portion comprises instructions for decompressing the at least a portion of the current software version.

15. In a media distribution system comprising a media provider and a set-top box, a system for updating set-top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of the set-top box to a current software version, comprising:

a bootstrap loader having an instruction set automatically performed after a set-top box reset, 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;

a memory for storing the current software version; and

the set-top box comprising:

a tuner for receiving one or more signals transmitted by the media provider having the downloaded data;

a processor for determining if the tuner locks on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider; and

a modem for receiving the downloaded data to update the resident software version if the tuner does not locks on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the instruction set is performed upon the set-top box reset.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the set-top box reset includes a power up reset, a hardware reset, and a software reset.

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

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the bootstrap loader includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

20. The system of claim 15 , 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.

21. The system of claim 20 , 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.

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

23. The system of claim 20 , 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.

24. The system of claim 20 , 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.

25. The system of claim 15 , 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.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein:

the set-top box comprises a random access memory and a flash memory;

the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set-top box, and the second sub-portion comprises instructions for repartitioning the flash memory.

27. In a media distribution system comprising a media provider and a set-top box, an apparatus for updating set-top box software from a resident software version stored in a memory of the set-top box to a current software version, the set-top box comprising a tuner for receiving one or more signals transmitted by the media provider and a modem, the apparatus comprising:

means for automatically checking to determine if the resident software version is the current software version after a set-top box reset; 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, comprising:

means for determining if the tuner locks on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider; and

means for automatically downloading the data comprising the at least a portion of the current software version via the modem to update the resident software version if the tuner does not lock on to any of the one or more signals transmitted by the media provider.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 , 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 the set-top box reset.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the set-top box reset includes a power up reset, a hardware reset, and a software reset.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the predetermined instruction set includes a first instruction of the bootstrap loader software.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the bootstrap loader includes a flexible installer, wherein a software image is installed according to the flexible installer instructions.

32. The apparatus of claim 28 , 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.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , 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.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , 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.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 , further comprising means for further resetting the set-top box if the current software version is not received within the time period.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein:

the broadcast announcement includes a download time; and the set-top box is reset prior to the download time.

37. The apparatus of claim 28 , 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 is the predetermined instruction set.

38. The apparatus of claim 27 , 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.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein:

the set-top box comprises a random access memory and a flash memory;

the second sub-portion is stored in and executed from a random access memory of the set-top box; and

the second sub-portion comprises instructions for repartitioning the flash memory.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein the second sub-portion comprises instructions for decompressing the at least a portion of the current software version.