Authorization and access control of software object residing in set-top terminals

A method for providing authorization and access control of applications executing in digital set-top terminals, comprising the steps of:

• associating each application with a service tier;
• encoding each association made in said associating step;
• creating an association table containing the information generated in said encoding step;
• downloading the association table to the digital set-top terminal;
• and
• providing a system routine at the digital set-top terminal that is invoked whenever an application is invoked,
• wherein the system routine uses the application association or the association table to determine if an invoked application is associated with a service tier, and
• wherein if the invoked application is not associated with a service tier, the application is not utilized.

A system for providing authorization and access control of software object residing in digital set-top terminals, comprising:

• a multiple system cable operator site comprising:
• means for creating a fingerprint for each software object;
• means for assigning each fingerprint to a service tier;
• encoding means for encoding each association made in said associating step;
• means for creating an association table/message containing the information generated in said encoding step;
• means for downloading the association table to the digital set-top terminal;
• means for transmitting a message, providing an indication of what software the set-top terminal may utilize, to the digital set-top terminal;
• and
• a digital set-top terminal comprising:
• a system routine that is invoked whenever software object has been downloaded or is about to be utilized,
• wherein the system routine uses the association table/message to determine if the software object about to be invoked has been authorized for the set-top terminal.