System and associated methods for remotely enabling features
AssigneeCSC Holdings, LLC
InventorRichard W. Neill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus enables a feature among a plurality of features in an application loaded on a client, with the client located remotely from a server. The server receives a data profile request from the client. In response to the data profile request, a data profile is sent from the server to the client, the data profile including a profile key to identify the client, an application identification to identify the application, and a feature selector. The application uses the feature selector to enable the feature among the plurality of features.
Claims22
1-22. (canceled)
A method of enabling a particular feature among a plurality of features of a software application loaded on one or more set-top boxes in a cable system, the one or more set-top boxes located remotely from a head-end in the cable system, the method comprising:
- at the head-end, generating a profile key identifying a sub-set of set-top boxes having loaded thereon software for implementing one or more of the plurality of features, and identifying the particular feature for enabling;
- and
- enabling the particular feature on the sub-set of set-top boxes by sending the profile key from the head-end to the plurality of set-top boxes such that the software application loaded on the sub-set of set-top boxes uses the profile key to newly enable the particular feature of the software application.
A head-end device operable to enable a particular feature among a plurality of features in a software application loaded on a set-top box in a cable system, the set-top box located remotely from the head-end device in the cable system, the head-end device comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory to store instructions to be executed by the processor, the instructions comprising:
- generating a profile key identifying a sub-set of set-top boxes having loaded thereon software for implementing one or more of the plurality of features, and identifying the particular feature for enabling;
- and
- enabling the particular feature on the sub-set of set-top boxes by sending the profile key from the head-end to the plurality of set-top boxes such that the software application loaded on the sub-set of set-top boxes uses the profile key to newly enable the particular feature of the software application.
A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions for enabling a particular feature among a plurality of features in a software application loaded on one or more set-top boxes in a cable system, the-set-top boxes located remotely from a head-end in the cable system, the plurality of instructions comprising:
- generating a profile key identifying a sub-set of set-top boxes having loaded thereon software for implementing one or more of the plurality of features, and identifying the particular feature for enabling;
- and
- enabling the particular feature on the sub-set of set-top boxes by sending the profile key from the head-end to the plurality of set-top boxes such that the software application loaded on the sub-set of set-top boxes uses the profile key to newly enable the particular feature of the software application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.