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| Software Updates for your TV…and more! |
Every PC owner has seen the notice “New updates ready to install” pop up from the lower right task bar. Microsoft Windows operating systems, Sun Java engines, anti-virus programs, and other software applications routinely and automatically update themselves – sometimes weekly.
The PC is not alone. In fact, cell phones are updated very frequently without the consumer even knowing it. The mobile phone industry spent over one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) delivering software patches to phones in 2005.
Now, with HDTVs and many new sophisticated software applications that run on them, the TV also needs software maintenance support, as are Blu-ray players, set-top boxes and other television related devices. Historically, these types of consumer electronic devices had a minimal amount of software, however today almost every consumer electronic device has large complex software stacks…and they continue to grow in size and complexity every year.
Furthermore, due to reduced software development budgets and shorter product development cycles, these devices are more likely to fail than ever before. |
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All of this has created a new environment in which consumer electronics manufacturers have to change their mentality from “ship it and forget it” to “ship it and support it”.
Computers and mobile phones are connected to a single network (Internet and the cell carrier respectively), but TVs and Blu-ray players are not. These devices might be connected to an antenna, a cable network, a satellite feed, the Internet or some combination of these four. So if TV manufacturers have a software defect which needs to be delivered to thousands or millions of devices in the market – they must consider distributing the update over many different distribution mediums.
Introducing UpdateTV™ from UpdateLogic. UpdateTV provides a multi-path distribution and installation system to repair software defects in consumer electronic devices. UpdateLogic is the only provider of multiple technology-based software update distribution solutions, collectively called UpdateTV. UpdateTV streamlines the entire software support process. UpdateLogic can deliver a software update to any device – by utilizing several delivery mechanisms. |
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Through its exclusive relationship with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), UpdateLogic can broadcast the software update over-the-air utilizing existing digital terrestrial broadcast bandwidth in the United States; and the device, if connected to an antenna, can automatically receive and install the update.
Similarly, through its relationships with US-based cable operators such as Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, and Charter and through a contract with CableLabs, UpdateLogic can similarly transmit the software update across cable networks for the device to automatically receive and install.
In addition, UpdateLogic can deliver the software update via the Internet. The web-connected TV, Blu-ray player or other consumer electronics device can routinely check web servers for updates and then download data from the Internet and install when one is available.
Finally, UpdateLogic can mail the software update on a media drive, such as a USB stick, to the consumer for a simple self-install.
All of the UpdateTV software update distribution methods allow UpdateLogic to provide the consumer electronics industry with a complete software update distribution service. Whether you are manufacturing a television and Blu-ray disc player or other consumer electronic device, UpdateTV should be integrated into the platform.
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