Patent ID: 8347345
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: H04H,H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A hardware upgrade for a set top terminal for use with a television program delivery system with menu selection of programs, the set top terminal having a microprocessor and microprocessor instructions for prompting generation of menus, the hardware upgrade comprising: an upgrade interface configured for insertion within an expansion card interface slot of the set top terminal for providing access to a set top terminal microprocessor bus coupled to the set top terminal microprocessor and providing data to the set top terminal microprocessor via the set top terminal microprocessor bus; a communications port to provide communication between the hardware upgrade and a headend; and a hardware upgrade microprocessor, coupled to the upgrade interface, the hardware upgrade microprocessor configured for communicating directly with the set top terminal microprocessor through the set top terminal microprocessor bus via the upgrade interface; wherein the hardware upgrade microprocessor provides enhanced functions to the set top terminal microprocessor through communication with the set top terminal microprocessor using the upgrade interface coupled to the set top terminal microprocessor bus according to interactive input received from a subscriber, generate responses based on the received interactive input and provide the generated responses to the microprocessor of the set top terminal, the hardware upgrade microprocessor configured to communicate directly with a headend via the communications port to receive upgrade data to provide the enhanced functions to the set top microprocessor in response to the interactive input received from the subscriber.