METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DISRUPTIONS IN SET-TOP TERMINAL FUNCTION DUE TO THE DOWNLOAD OF UPDATED PROGRAMMING OR DATA TO THE SET-TOP TERMINAL

摘要

A method and device prevent a set-top terminal from accepting a download of new programming or data over a cable network when the download contains information already possessed by the set-top terminal or would cause an inconvenience to subscribers. When the set-top terminal is signaled that a n ew download is being offered, it checks whether the download contains a newer version of data or programmming than that currently resident in the set-top terminal. It also checks whether the conditions indicating that an interruption of service to accept a download would not invonvenience the subscriber, are satisfied. If they are, the downlaod is accepted. Similar criteria govern the termination of the older, executing programming and the execution of the newer, downloaded programming to, again, prevent unwarrante d disruptions in service.