The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1999
Samuel Reichgott, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abhijit Chatterjee, Landsdale, PA (US);
Charles Schell, Churchville, PA (US);
Samuel Reichgott, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abhijit Chatterjee, Landsdale, PA (US);
Charles Schell, Churchville, PA (US);
General Instrument Corporation, Horsham, PA (US);
Abstract
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 would be redundant of information already possessed by the set-top terminal or would cause an inconvenience to subscribers. When the set-top terminal is signaled that a new download is being offered, the set-top terminal checks to see if the download in fact contains a newer version of data or programming than is currently resident in the set-top terminal. The set-top terminal also checks whether criteria for accepting a download are met. The criteria are conditions that tend to indicate that an interruption of service to accept a download would not inconvenience the subscriber at that time. When the criteria are met, the download is accepted. Otherwise, the download is not accepted or is not accepted until the criteria are satisfied. Similar criteria govern the termination of the older, executing programming and the execution of the newer, downloaded programming to, again, prevent unwarranted disruptions in service.