Abstract: A consumer device is presented that utilizes a system and method for downloading from a network server the run time image of the device's operating system and/or application program. As such, the amount of Flash memory required to store the operating system may be greatly reduced, which also reduces the cost associated with such Flash memory. Since the run time image is downloaded from a network server, the image can be updated at the server for bug fixes and feature enhancements. For devices operating in audio/video distribution, additional security is provided to maintain the digital rights management of the A/V content. This security is provided through a combination of hardware and software security features including ROM in the CPU or board mounted Flash memory with an unwritable section. Further, each boot load program checks the digital signature of the program it is loading before that program is allowed to execute.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the collection and delivery of broadcast data. Broadcast data is captured by broadcast data sources from television broadcasts and the captured broadcast data is collected by a broadcast data source miniport. The miniport differentiates the broadcast data to separate the requested broadcast data and to separate the broadcast data that complies with a protocol from broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol. The nonrequested broadcast data is preferably discarded and the broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol is encapsulated with appropriate headers. The broadcast data is then transferred through the network or system to a common application interface such as Winsock through NDIS and a protocol such as UDP/IP. Alternatively, a RawData module is used that does not rely on sockets and is capable of communicating with the miniport.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the collection and delivery of broadcast data. Broadcast data is captured by broadcast data sources from television broadcasts and the captured broadcast data is collected by a broadcast data source miniport. The miniport differentiates the broadcast data to separate the requested broadcast data and to separate the broadcast data that complies with a protocol from broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol. The nonrequested broadcast data is preferably discarded and the broadcast data that does not comply with a protocol is encapsulated with appropriate headers. The broadcast data is then transferred through the network or system to a common application interface such as Winsock through NDIS and a protocol such as UDP/IP. Alternatively, a RawData module is used that does not rely on sockets and is capable of communicating with the miniport.

Abstract: A consumer device is presented that utilizes a system and method for downloading from a network server the run time image of the device's operating system and/or application program. As such, the amount of Flash memory required to store the operating system may be greatly reduced, which also reduces the cost associated with such Flash memory. Since the run time image is downloaded from a network server, the image can be updated at the server for bug fixes and feature enhancements. For devices operating in audio/video distribution, additional security is provided to maintain the digital rights management of the A/V content. This security is provided through a combination of hardware and software security features including ROM in the CPU or board mounted Flash memory with an unwritable section. Further, each boot load program checks the digital signature of the program it is loading before that program is allowed to execute.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for achieving alignment of the header fields of a specific layer, such as the transport layer header fields, at a receiving host. The receiving host determines a number of padding bytes that need to be added to the transport layer header for the fields to be properly aligned in the memory of the receiving host. This number is determined dynamically for each connection because different connections require different numbers of padding bytes. The number of padding bytes for a connection is determined by the receiving host from the first packet received for a particular connection. Specifically, the receiving host examines this first packet and determines the position of the first byte of the transport layer protocol header, and therefore, the number of padding bytes required to achieve 32-bit (or 64 bit) alignment. The receiving host communicates the number of padding bytes to the transmitting host.

Abstract: In a local area network segment, the bandwidth in the channel between a network interface device, e.g., a port, switching hub, router, bridge or server, and one or more associated station is shared as follows. At the network interface device, a variable is maintained which stores information relating to the success or failure of transmission of packets in the channel. If the channel is sensed idle, the network interface device transmits the packet with probability 1. If the channel is sensed busy, the network interface device senses the channel for an end-of-carrier signal and, thereafter, waits a period of time equal to the interframe gap g. In addition, after an additional delay period .zeta., the network interface device reattempts to transmit the packet in the channel. If the variable maintained by the network interface device is less than a certain limit, the delay .zeta. is selected according to a first basic bandwidth allocation protocol.