Set Top Box Content Preservation During Remote Upgrade
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to upgrade Set Top Box (STB) Personal Video Recorder (PVR) devices without losing user-stored content, while minimizing the need for service technician involvement and reducing the time and costs associated with the upgrade process.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using a network-based system where user content is uploaded to a network storage device before the upgrade, and the new STB is preloaded with this content, allowing for remote delivery and installation, potentially eliminating the need for a technician to visit the customer's premises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a service technician manually copies user content during STB upgrade, then content is preserved, but upgrade time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically uploads user content from the old STB to network storage before the upgrade occurs, and automatically downloads it to the new STB after installation. This preliminary and post-upgrade automation eliminates the need for manual content copying during the upgrade window, preserving content while reducing technician time requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Network storage serves as an intermediary between the old and new STB devices. Instead of directly copying content from old to new STB during upgrade, the system uses network storage as a temporary holding location, enabling automatic content preservation without requiring technician intervention for manual copying.
2Reliability
If a service technician manually copies user content during STB upgrade, then content is preserved, but upgrade cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upgrade system performs content preservation automatically without requiring service technician intervention. The STB and network storage system self-manage the content upload and download processes, eliminating labor costs associated with manual content copying while ensuring content is preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
Network storage acts as an automated intermediary that handles content transfer between old and new STB devices. This automation eliminates the need for paid technician time for manual copying, reducing upgrade costs while maintaining content preservation through systematic automated processes.
3Reliability
If technician visits customer premises for STB upgrade, then content can be preserved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service content preservation where the STB automatically uploads content to network storage before upgrade and downloads it after installation. This automation removes the need for technician visits, simplifying the upgrade process while ensuring content is preserved through systematic automated operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Content upload to network storage occurs as a preliminary action before the STB upgrade and technician visit. This advance preparation ensures content is already secured on the network, reducing the complexity of the actual upgrade process at customer premises while guaranteeing content preservation.
4Reliability
If manual content copying is performed during STB upgrade, then content is preserved, but risk of incorrect delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system uses feedback mechanisms to verify content upload completion and match content with the correct new STB device. The system tracks content locations and ensures accurate delivery by confirming successful transfers, eliminating manual errors in content delivery while preserving content integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Network storage serves as a controlled intermediary that systematically manages content transfer. Instead of manual copying prone to errors, the automated intermediary ensures content is accurately matched to and delivered for the correct new STB device, improving delivery precision while maintaining content preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for smoothly and efficiently upgrading set top boxes, e.g., personal video recorders, which have customer selected content stored thereon are described. The described methods allow content stored on a set top box to be uploaded to a network storage device, e.g., automatically at a predetermined time prior to a scheduled upgrade, or in some cases, via manual control of the set top box to be upgraded. After stored content is uploaded to the network storage device, the set top box is replaced with a new set top box. The new set top box can be preloaded with the previously uploaded content or a content download can be triggered, e.g., by activating a hidden application and by supplying information identifying the set top box being replaced as part of the upgrade process.