Method for updating and managing an audiovisual data processing application included in a multimedia unit by means of a conditional access module

A method for updating and managing an audiovisual data processing application included in a multimedia unit, by means of a conditional access module controlling the access to the encrypted audiovisual data broadcast in a transport stream via a broadcast network and controlled by a broadcast center or a management center all or part of said data being returned by the conditional access module and transmitted to said audiovisual data processing application, said conditional access module using a firmware having a current version for processing and returning the data to the application, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving by the conditional access module information indicating a maximum available version of the conditional access module and a minimum required version of the conditional access module firmware,
• reading the information on the minimum version required and comparing with the current version of the conditional access module firmware,
• reading the information from the maximum version available and comparing with the current version of conditional access module firmware,
• when the comparison gives a result indicating that the maximum available version is superior to the current version of the firmware loaded in the conditional access module, transmitting to the application an invitation message for updating the firmware,
• updating of said firmware to the maximum available version or at least to a version higher or equal to the minimum version according to the steps of.
• a) transmitting an updating command by the conditional access module to the multimedia unit,
• b) receiving the updating command by the multimedia unit and transmitting an updating request to the management center, via a communication network,
• c) downloading from the management center by the multimedia unit the updating data comprising the conditional access module firmware and the updating data for the multimedia unit application,
• d) installing the conditional access module firmware, and the updating data for the multimedia unit application.
• when the comparison gives a result indicating that the minimum version required is superior to the current version of the firmware loaded in the conditional access module, deactivating the audiovisual data access control functions and transmitting to the application an error message reporting the necessity of updating the firmware, according to steps a) through d).