Donald Scott Cheek

US Patent:

60290463, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Dec 1, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/566257

Inventors:

Raheel Ahmed Khan - Lawrenceville GA
David Brent Burleson - Roswell GA
John Thomas Filion - Lawrenceville GA
Donald Scott Cheek - Auburn GA

Assignee:

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. - Norcross GA

International Classification:

H04H 102
H04N 710

US Classification:

455 62

Abstract:

A communications terminal for receiving digital data services at a location remote from a transmitter comprises a service controller, a bus system, a random access memory and a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory preferably comprises FLASH memory. Data is first loaded into random access memory, preferably SRAM and there checked for errors and error-corrected. The data is preferably loaded in blocks into FLASH memory in a predetermined manner to further secure the service data and to permit the use of byte-wide memories accessed as word-wide memories. A service back-up memory is further connected to the bus for storing service data during suspension of play of a service. The service back-up memory preferably comprises a FLASH memory card having its own basic input output service (BIOS) control. A method of storing back-up service data in a home communications terminal comprises the steps of storing current service data in a first FLASH non-volatile memory and storing previous service data in a state in which play of the service is suspended is a second FLASH non-volatile memory, the service back-up memory described above.