Multipurpose Television Module

Abstract

A method of processing a boot sequence for a processor forming a part of a module apparatus involves interrogating a host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus; receiving a reply to the interrogation; and responsive to the reply, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of operation, comprising:
 in a module apparatus communicatively coupled with a host device:
 receiving a Java™ application code from the host device; 
 establishing a mode of operation based on a configuration of the module apparatus, wherein a Java™ application execution engine residing on the module apparatus executes the Java™ application code for the host device based on the mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising receiving decrypted content using a conditional access decryption mechanism. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , further comprising interrogating the host device to determine a plurality of capabilities of the host device. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of capabilities of the host device comprises one or more of Internet Protocol (IP) functionality, OpenCable™ Applications Platform (OCAP) functionality, multi-streaming, or single-streaming. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the module apparatus is a multi-function module with dynamic pin assignment based on a configuration of the host device. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the mode of operation is established by establishing a first mode of OCAP operation if the host device requires OCAP functionality. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the mode of operation is established by establishing an OpenCable™ Unidirectional Receiver (OCUR) mode of operation if the host device does not have OCAP functionality. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the mode of operation is established by establishing a second mode of operation if the host device is not an IP host and the host device requires OCAP functionality. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the module apparatus is booted as a Multi-stream card if the host device is a Multi-stream host and as a Single-stream card if the host device is a Single-stream host. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the data returned to the host device comprises graphical information generated by the Java™ application execution engine for rendering on a television display. 
     
     
         43 . A method of operation, comprising:
 in a module apparatus communicatively coupled with a host television device:
 determining a configuration of the module apparatus based on an operational environment supported by the host television device; 
 receiving an application code from the host television device; and 
 establishing a mode of operation based on the configuration of the module apparatus, wherein an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus executes the application code for the host television device based on the mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         44 . A module apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors operable to:
 receive a Java™ application code from a host device; 
 establish a mode of operation based on a configuration of the module apparatus, wherein a Java™ application execution engine residing on the module apparatus executes the Java™ application code for the host device based on the mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         45 . The module apparatus according to  claim 44 , further comprising a conditional access (CA) decrypter configured to decrypt content received by the module apparatus using a conditional access decryption mechanism. 
     
     
         46 . The module apparatus according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to configure at least one of a first encrypter or a second encrypter to encrypt the decrypted content from the CA decrypter. 
     
     
         47 . The module apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein the first encrypter or the second encrypter is one of a dynamic feedback arrangement scrambling technique (DFAST) encrypter or digital transmission content protection (DTCP)-compliant encrypter. 
     
     
         48 . The module apparatus according to  claim 47 , further comprising a content decoder configured to receive content from the CA decrypter and a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). 
     
     
         49 . The module apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to configure a fourth encrypter to encrypt the content using high bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) to pass the encrypted content from the content decoder to the host device. 
     
     
         50 . The module apparatus according to  claim 44 , further comprising an interface for decompressed content, wherein the one or more processors are operable to configure the interface to transfer the decompressed content to the host device. 
     
     
         51 . The module apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the Java™ application execution engine comprises one of an OCAP compliant execution engine or a Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) compliant execution engine. 
     
     
         52 . The module apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the Java™ application code received from at least one content service is passed over a connector to the module apparatus by the host device.