Automatic initialization of an advanced set-top box in a cable television systemby downloading software or firmware over the cable system

摘要

A method and system for programming a set-top terminal in a cable television system includes automatically launching a boot code object from the read-only memory of the set-top terminal when the terminal is powered or reset. The boot code object will automatically identify and acquire and implement the base platform code, which may be acquired from the memory of the set-top terminal or downloaded from a data transport stream provided over the cable television system. Once the base platform code is executing, the boot code is terminated. The base platform code then automatically locates and acquires the operating system object and any other resident applications of a native suite, which may be pulled from the memory of the set-top terminal or downloaded from the cable system. The base platform code authenticates the native suite and then launches the native suite to provide full set-top terminal functionality.