Patent ID: 8032917

Claim:
A method of controlling the downloading of code and data objects by a set-top terminal in a cable television system, the method comprising: transmitting a download control message to said set-top terminal, wherein said download control message comprises a list specifying a plurality of listed objects and, for each listed object, specifies an object to be downloaded, a ROMable size of said object indicating a total amount of memory said object will occupy once downloaded and a location of said object such that said set-top terminal is enabled to commence downloading said object upon receipt of said download control message; downloading data packets of said object in accordance with said download control message; resetting a first timer in response to receiving each of the data packets; terminating said downloading if the first timer exceeds a set limit prior to receipt of a next successive data packet of said object; and terminating said downloading if a second timer exceeds a second limit, wherein the second limit defines a time limit for downloading all objects of the plurality of listed objects of said download control message.