Method and apparatus for a game delivery service including flash memory and a game back-up module

A secure home communications terminal for pay services comprising:

• a secure controller for 1) tuning to a service channel frequency, 2) demodulating a service and authorization and control data stream, 3) deserializing and deinterleaving received data, 4) decrypting received data, and 5) storing said data in memory;
• a random access memory for receiving said stored data;
• a service back-up memory for storing service data pending play of a new service,
• a plug-in connection to said secure controller for a service player;
• and
• a bus system connecting said service back-up memory and said controller, the service player retrieving service data only upon authorization, said authorization data, stored in memory of said secure controller, being accessible by a controller of said service player for reading and not writing;
• wherein said stored data is corrupted after a predetermined period of time after suspending service play.

A method of downloading service data to a home communications terminal comprising the steps of:

• tuning to a particular channel;
• synchronizing to frame data of the channel;
• deserializing service data from the frame data in accordance with selection criteria;
• checking the service data for errors;
• loading only error-free service data into non-volatile memory;
• and
• corrupting the service data stored in non-volatile memory after suspension of play and after a predetermined period of time.

A method of storing back-up service data in a home communications terminal comprising the steps of:

• receiving service data via a transmission channel;
• checking said service data for errors and storing error-free service data in a first portion of random access memory and the service data with errors in a second portion of random access memory
• storing current game information service data in a first FLASH non-volatile memory;
• and
• storing previous game information service data in a state in which play of said service is suspended in a second FLASH non-volatile memory, said first and second FLASH non-volatile memories being coupled to a shared bus system for interfacing with service player apparatus.