SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR A TELEVISION SET-TOP TERMINAL PROVIDING COMPATIBILITY WITH MULTIPLE OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

A software architecture is provided to enable core television set-top software(20) to run in different operating environments. A kernel abstractioncomponent (18) uses kernel calls and kernel-specific translations to abstractoperating system-specific functions from an operating system kernel (16). Thefunctions are made available to the core software (20) in a generic format.Additionally, a device drivers-to-driver model interface (30) separates thedetails of the driver model environment from the core system software (20).Furthermore, a software interface (26) allows application programs (10) (suchas program guides, games, and Internet web browsers) and middleware (12) tocommunicate with the core set-top system software (20). The core softwareallows the set-top to provide television functions such as serviceacquisition, system information management, download capability, return pathcommunication, set-top configuration, and conditional access control.