Methods and apparatus for event logging in an information network
Methods and apparatus for logging, analysis, and reporting of events such as reboots in a client device (e.g., consumer premises equipment in a cable network) using applications. In one aspect, an improved event logging and monitoring system is provided within the device with which the application(s) can interface to record event or error data. In one exemplary embodiment, the client device comprises a digital set-top box having Java-enabled middleware adapted to implement the various functional aspects of the event logging system, which registers to receive event notifications (including resource exhaustion data) from other applications running on the device. The network operator can also optionally control the operation of the logging system remotely via a network agent. Improved client device and network configurations, as well as methods of operating these systems, are also disclosed.
1. Apparatus adapted for operation within a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:
a network interface adapted for communication with said content delivery network;
a digital processor;
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
middleware adapted to run on said processor; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application programming interfaces (APIs), said privileged APIs adapted to be accessed by only an application with special permission to do so;
wherein said APIs are further adapted to enable at least one of the reporting and handling of events occurring within said apparatus, said events relating to an available storage of said apparatus, and said handling comprising removal or destruction of at least one application resident on said apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said removal or destruction of at least one application comprises removal or destruction according to a hierarchy or priority scheme.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said hierarchy or priority scheme comprises an MHP-compliant destruction hierarchy or scheme.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said hierarchy or priority scheme comprises an OCAP-compliant destruction hierarchy or scheme.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said content delivery network comprises a satellite delivery network.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said middleware comprises Digital Television Application Software Environment (DASE) compliant middleware.
7. Apparatus for operation within a hybrid delivery network having both optical fiber and non-fiber portions, said apparatus comprising:
a network interface in communication with said hybrid delivery network;
a digital processor;
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
middleware adapted to run on said processor; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application programming interfaces (APIs), said privileged APIs adapted to be accessed by only an application with special permission to do so;
wherein said APIs are further adapted to enable at least one of the reporting and/or handling of events occurring within said apparatus, said events relating to at least one resource of said apparatus.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said events comprise events relating contention for said at least one resource, and said handling comprises implementation of a priority or hierarchy scheme for making said at least one resource available.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said non-fiber portion of said content delivery network comprises a metallic conductor bearer medium.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said privileged APIs comprise Java classes and methods.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said application with special permission comprises a monitor application.
12. Apparatus adapted for operation within a content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
a network interface adapted for communication with said content distribution network;
a digital processor;
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
middleware adapted to run on said processor; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application programming interfaces (APIs), said privileged APIs adapted to be accessed by only a monitor application with special permission to do so;
wherein said APIs are further adapted to perform at least one of:
report events occurring within said apparatus; and/or
remove or destroy at least one application resident on said apparatus in response to said events occurring within said apparatus; and
wherein said events relate to at least one resource of said apparatus.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said removal or destruction of at least one application comprises removal or destruction according to a Multimedia Home Platform (MHP)-compliant hierarchy or priority scheme.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said removal or destruction of at least one application comprises removal or destruction according to an OpenCable (OCAP)-compliant destruction hierarchy or scheme.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said content distribution network comprises a hybrid delivery network having both optical fiber and non-fiber portions.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said non-fiber portion of said delivery network comprises a metallic conductor bearer medium.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said middleware is compliant with Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG) standards.
18. Apparatus adapted for operation within a satellite content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
a network interface in communication with said satellite content distribution network;
a digital processor configured to run:
middleware; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application programming interfaces (APIs), said privileged APIs adapted to be accessed by only a monitor application with special permission to do so; and
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
wherein said APIs are further adapted to enable at least one of the reporting and/or handling of events occurring within said apparatus, said events relating to at least one resource of said apparatus.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said events occurring within said apparatus are taken from the group consisting of: (i) recoverable error types; (ii) catastrophic error types; and/or (iii) resource depletion events.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said monitor application comprises a trusted monitor application.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said events comprise events relating contention for said at least one resource, and said handling comprises implementation of a priority-based scheme for making said at least one resource available.
22. A method of operating client equipment in operative communication with a hybrid optical fiber and non-fiber delivery network, said equipment comprising at least at least a privileged first application and a second application, said method comprising:
detecting at least one error in the operation of said client equipment;
determining a type of said at least one detected error;
selectively initiating at least one action based at least in part on said determined type; and
storing at least a portion of data relating to said error within a storage device;
wherein said acts of determining and selectively initiating are performed at least in part by said privileged first application; and
wherein said act of detecting is performed at least in part by said second application.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said at least one detected error comprises either a hardware failure event or a contention event.
24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising generating data relating to said error.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein said privileged first application comprises an OpenCable (OCAP)-compliant application running on said client equipment.
26. A method of operating an MHP-complaint host device adapted for use in a multi-channel satellite distribution network, said host device comprising at least at least a privileged first application and a second application, said method comprising:
detecting at least one error in the operation of said host device;
determining a type of said at least one detected error;
selectively initiating at least one action based at least in part on said determined type via said privileged first application; and
storing at least a portion of data relating to said error within a storage device;
wherein said acts of determining and selectively initiating are performed at least in part by said privileged first application; and
wherein said act of detecting is performed at least in part by said second application.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein said at least one error comprises either a catastrophic error or a recoverable error.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein said type of said at least one detected error comprises at least one of: (i) informational message types; (ii) recoverable error types; (iii) catastrophic error types; (iv) reboot events; and/or (v) resource depletion events.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein said act of selectively initiating at least one action comprises generating a message for transmission to another entity.
30. Apparatus adapted for operation within a content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
a network interface adapted for communication with said content distribution network;
a digital processor;
a storage device operatively coupled to said processor;
middleware adapted to run on said processor, said middleware comprising at least one of:
Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) compliant middleware;
Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG) compliant middleware; and/or
Digital Television Application Software Environment (DASE) compliant middleware; and
software adapted to run on said processor and comprising a plurality of application programming interfaces (APIs), said APIs adapted to at least support a trusted monitor application, said trusted monitor application being configured to:
detect one or more events occurring within said apparatus relating to at least one resource of said apparatus; and
take one or more actions with respect to said detected one or more events.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said APIs adapted to at least support a trusted application comprise Java classes and methods particularly adapted for said at least support of said trusted application.
32. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said content distribution network comprises at least one of: a cable television network; a satellite content network; and/or a wireless Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.
33. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said one or more actions taken comprises reporting said one or more events to an entity in communication with said apparatus via said network.
34. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said one or more events comprise hardware contention events and said one or more actions taken comprises removal or destruction of at least one application resident on said apparatus.
35. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said removal or destruction of at least one application comprises removal or destruction according to a hierarchy or priority scheme.
36. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein said one or more events comprise hardware failure events and said one or more actions taken comprise corrective actions to remedy said hardware failure.
37. The apparatus of claim 36 , wherein if it is determined that said corrective actions do not remedy said hardware failure, said trusted monitor application further configured to report said hardware failure to a network entity.
38. Apparatus for operation within a hybrid delivery network having both optical fiber and non-fiber portions, said apparatus comprising:
network interface means in communication with said hybrid delivery network;
processing means;
storage means operatively coupled to said processing means;
middleware adapted to run on said processing means; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application interface means, said privileged application interface means adapted to be accessed by only an application with special permission to do so;
wherein said application interface means are further adapted to enable at least one of the reporting and/or handling of events occurring within said apparatus, said events relating to at least one resource of said apparatus.
39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said events comprise events relating contention for said at least one resource, and said handling comprises implementation of a priority or hierarchy scheme for making said at least one resource available.
40. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein said non-fiber portion of said content delivery network comprises a metallic conductor bearer medium.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein said privileged application interface means comprise Java classes and methods.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 , wherein said application with special permission comprises a monitor application.
43. Apparatus adapted for operation within a satellite-based content distribution network, said apparatus comprising:
network interface means in communication with said satellite-based content distribution network;
digital processing means configured to run:
middleware; and
software comprising a plurality of privileged application interface means, said privileged application interface means adapted to be accessed by only a monitor application with special permission to do so; and
storage means operatively coupled to said processing means;
wherein said application interface means are further adapted to enable at least one of the reporting and/or handling of events occurring within said apparatus, said events relating to at least one resource of said apparatus.
44. The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein said events occurring within said apparatus are selected from the group consisting of: (i) recoverable error types; (ii) catastrophic error types; and/or (iii) resource depletion events.
45. The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein said monitor application comprises a trusted monitor application.
46. The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein said events comprise events relating contention for said at least one resource, and said handling comprises implementation of a priority-based scheme for making said at least one resource available.
47. The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein said apparatus comprises a digital settop box, and said network interface means comprises:
at least one radio frequency tuner; and
at least one QAM demodulator.