Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are provided to allow convenient updating of the controller of a media device using content-containing media accessible by the device. Features provided in implementations can include, but am not limited to, prompt and efficient distribution of updates to device users, and promotion of use of the device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/758,451, filed Jan. 11, 2006, entitled “Firmware Updates on Media”, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is in the field of updating media players, and in particular updating of firmware for controllers of media players. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In conventional systems, updates for firmware or software of a device are typically provided by the device manufacturer directly to the user of the device for installation. However, this approach can be cumbersome for users, in particular when there are many updates over time. 
         [0004]    In addition, if the update mechanism is necessary but inconvenient, e.g., due to a complicated and evolving standard, the device or standard associated with the device may become less popular with users, 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of providing an update to a controller of a media player, including making an update/content medium, the update/content medium including data corresponding to content and data corresponding to at least one update. 
         [0006]    Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The media player may be a BD-ROM player, a DVD player, a CD-ROM player, a magnetic or optical disk player, or a flash memory player. Where the media player is a DVD player or a BD-ROM player, the content may be a motion picture or televised program. The step of making may further include making a plurality of slots to contain a corresponding plurality of updates. At least a portion of the plurality of slots may contain different updates for one media player, e.g., each slot may contain a different update for one type of media player. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the plurality of slots contain different updates, one or more each for a plurality of types of media players. For example, each slot may contain the latest update for a different type of media player. The media player may be configured to automatically detect the presence of an update. The step of making may further include storing the update in a disc replicator, such that the update is provided on the media when the media is replicated. The step of making may further include storing an update in each slot until all the slots are. filled, and then replacing an oldest-in-time update with a next-in-time update. The update may be encrypted, and may include a header that identifies to which media player the update pertains. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the invention is directed to a computer-readable medium including data corresponding to content and data corresponding to at least one update. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a method of updating a controller of a media player, including: providing an update/content medium, the update/content medium including data corresponding to content and data corresponding to at least one update; instructing a user to insert the update/content medium into a media player; detecting if the update/content medium includes an update corresponding to the media player, and if so displaying a screen to the user via the media player, the screen giving the user the option to install the update, such that if the user chooses to install the update, the update modifies the controller of the media player. 
         [0009]    Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The method may further include the step of displaying a notice that the update was installed. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of updating a controller of a media player including: providing an update/content medium, the update/content medium including data corresponding to content and data corresponding to at least one update; inserting the update/content medium into a media player; and installing the update/content medium such that the controller of the media player is modified. 
         [0011]    Advantages of the invention may include one or more of the following. The update procedure for media players is convenient for users, and few additional steps are required. Even large updates can be provided to users easily. The user enjoys a positive experience with the media player, and use of the same may increase. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a flowchart depicting a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts two alternative embodiments of a step depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic representation of a media player device that may be employed with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a flowchart depicting another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a flowchart depicting a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a schematic representation of a media replicator device that may be employed with embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows a flowchart depicting steps of an embodiment of the invention using the device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  depicts a medium containing slots according to another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows a flowchart depicting steps of an embodiment of the invention using the medium of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  shows a flowchart depicting yet a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  depicts a medium containing slots according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    The following definitions are employed in this description. 
         [0024]    “Content” refers in this context to information or data that may be played back, including viewed or listened to, to an audience, including a single viewer/listener. Content will typically include one or more of audio data, video data, or image data. 
         [0025]    “Media” refers to a device or article that contains or stores content or other data files or applications, such as a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc. Media may also refer to downloaded content or other data files or applications. 
         [0026]    “Media player” refers to a device that can play back content, such as a DVD player, BD-ROM player, CD-ROM player, computer, and other such devices. 
         [0027]    “Controller” of a media player refers to software, hardware, firmware, or any other format, containing instructions employable by a processor to operate a media player. 
         [0028]    “Update” to a controller of a media player refers to software and/or data that modifies part or all of the controller of a media player. Update data may also be generally considered “non-content” data, and vice-versa. The update may apply to controlling aspects of the operation of the player other than the media functions of the player. The update may also be or include updates for data stored on the player, but not directly used for control (e.g., display data). 
         [0029]    “UDCM” or “Update/Content Medium” refers to a medium that contains both content and an update. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one exemplary embodiment  10 , the invention includes steps of inputting a medium containing an update (step  12 ), and updating or modifying an application, in particular a controller of a media player, with the update. The inputting of a medium (step  12 ) may be accomplished (see  FIG. 2 ) by inserting a medium containing the update (step  16 ) or by downloading media containing the update (step  18 ). 
         [0031]    In more detail, updates are provided on media to be used with a media player  22  or other such device. In one implementation, shown in  FIG. 3 , a media player  22  includes an updatable controller  24  and an update component  26 , both of which may constitute hardware, software, firmware, or a combination, that can detect update data and use the same to update the controller within the media player. The medium may be accessible to the media device  22  via an input device  28  or via an input  32 . The input device  28  may be, e.g., a disc drive with accompanying components and circuitry. The alternative input device  32  may be any sort of component that can accept content files and update files, e.g., a USB input, a USB2 input, a wireless input, a FireWire input, or any other type of input or combination of inputs that can carry a signal, in particular, combinations of content and update data. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment  10 ′, seen in  FIG. 4 , the invention may include steps of inputting a medium containing an update (step  12 ′) where the media player or other device is configured to detect whether the medium contains an update that pertains to the media device or player. Upon such detection, the controller may be updated accordingly (step  14 ′), either automatically or upon the user verifying that such update is desired, as discussed in more detail below. If no appertaining update is detected, the content on the medium may be played back like any other. 
         [0033]    Referring to the embodied method  30  of  FIG. 5 , an update/content medium may be input that contains both update data as well as content (step  34 ). The content may be played back (step  36 ), and the controller may be updated accordingly (step  38 ). Steps  36  and  38  may occur in any order, or may even occur simultaneously. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the system and method may be implemented as part of a disc replicator system  42 . The disc replicator system  42  may store data corresponding to updates in an update component storage  44 , and may store data corresponding to content in a content storage  46 . Alternatively, the update component storage and the content storage are combined into a single storage device or system. A data writer  48  writes the actual data, of both types, on the media. In this way, the disc replicator system  42  may store respective update data for one or more media devices on an article of media along with non-update data. 
         [0035]    In particular, referring to  FIG. 7 , this method  50  may begin by the storage in the replicator of the update data (step  52 ). The method  50  may continue with the storage in the replicator of the content data (step  54 ). The content (step  56 ) and the update (step  58 ) data may then be written to the media. Of course, the steps in which the content and data are stored and subsequently written may occur in any order. 
         [0036]    The update data on a medium may include, e.g., sequential updates to a single type of media player. To accomplish this, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a medium  60  is shown with content or non-update data  68  and a number of slots, numbered 1-5, each holding updates  62 - 66 , respectively. Other implementations of media can include more or fewer slots. The slots can be specifically dedicated areas (physical or logical) of storage on the media (e.g., dedicated through a corresponding specification for the media), or can make use of other storage space (e.g., space deemed unused by the media author, such as space allocated according to a media specification but left empty in the media being prepared; or a collection of space spread across the media and indexed through a table stored in a defined or searchable location). 
         [0037]    For example, a Blu-ray Disc (BD) media player device may accept updates that are stored on a BD disc (BD-ROM), such as a movie disc. A number of data slots contained on BD-ROM movie titles can be used to host updates for an appertaining BD player. A ‘slot’ can be filled by a disc replicator company as above as needed on request of a player company. 
         [0038]    The ‘slots’ can be managed on a “first in, first out” basis to allow the cycling out of updates and to make room for new ones. Referring to the embodiment in  FIG. 9 , a method  70  may start with a first slot hosting a first update (step  72 ), a second slot hosting a second update (step  74 ), and so on. The remaining slots may be filled with updates until all the slots are used (step  76 ). When a new update “N” is issued (step  78 ), the new update may overwrite and take the place of update I in slot  1 . In this way, the oldest update is replaced by the newest update. For example, as new copies of a movie are released over time, the updates stored to the media will change depending on what update data is received from player manufacturers. 
         [0039]    In the BD-ROM embodiment, the BD-ROM could include a defined number of slots for updates. The replicator system as above may fill these slots with updates received from player companies in the order received. At the time of the initial release of the title, if there were no updates, the slots would be empty, or could alternatively be used for other data storage. As updates are received, the slots are used and the BD-ROMs are produced with the current set of slots. When a new update is received and the slots are all used, the oldest update is replaced with the new update. In this way, the updates are rotated. This may be particularly important in the BD-ROM setting, as the standard is complex and evolving. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a method  80  is shown for detection of the presence of updates on an update/content medium. Headers may be disposed at the beginning of each update data to indicate to what media players the update applies. Upon disc insertion or booting (step  84 ), the slots are scanned (step  86 ) for headers that indicate an update pertaining to the employed media player. If an applicable header, and thus update, is found in the scan step, the same may be automatically installed or optionally the user may be prompted as to whether installation is desired (step  88 ). If the user agrees to the installation (the YES branch of step  88 ), the same may be installed as appropriate (step  92 ). This step may include detection of prior-installed updates to ensure duplicate installations are avoided, as well as to ensure all the necessary updates, if more than one is necessary, are installed. A notice may be displayed to the user in any case (step  96 ) notifying the same of the installation and, e.g., directing enquiries or troubleshooting to the appropriate parties. If the user does not agree to the installation (the NO branch of step  88 ), the installation may be cancelled (step  94 ). 
         [0041]    A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, the medium  60  again contains content or non-update data  68 , but slots 1-5 include updates  62 ′- 66 ′. In this embodiment, rather than containing sequential updates to one media player, the slots may contain the latest update for each type of media player. Of course, the embodiment of  FIG. 11  may be combined with the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , such that some slots contain sequential updates and other slots contain updates from multiple respective companies. 
         [0042]    In the BD-ROM setting, a slot may be provided on the disc for each of a group of BD player companies, and the most recent update received from a company is stored in the corresponding slot. In this way, each company is ensured to have their most recent update on the BD-ROM disc. A player company using an update slot may optionally encrypt the header and the update data to its own specifications, or can include functionality in the media player to ensure that a power failure or any consumer action does not corrupt the player function through the update process. Moreover, the player company may provide advanced copies of updates to content companies so the updates can be tested so as not to deleteriously affect already released software titles. 
         [0043]    One implementation of the above invention includes one or more programmable processors and corresponding computer system components to store and execute computer instructions, such as to provide reading the update from a disc and updating firmware or other controllers in a media player, or to provide storing the update data to a storage medium in a replicator system. 
         [0044]    It should be noted that while the above description has been made with respect to specific embodiments, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted and limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto. It should also be noted that the above descriptions has used the terms “system” and “method” in an exemplary fashion, and these refer to system embodiments and method embodiments of the invention. The use of one such term does not exclude consideration of the other with respect to the described and pertaining embodiment. Moreover, other variations and implementations are possible. For example, various types of media can be used, such as DVD, CD-ROM, BD-ROM, magnetic disks, flash memory, or downloadable files. The update/content medium can include various content, such as audio, video, movies, games, music, software, or other data. The media players can be of various types, such as optical disc players, computer systems, mobile devices (e.g., phones or PDAs), game systems, etc.