Application blocking system

A Headend system for blocking a signaled application from being run on a set-top box, the system comprising:

• physical computing machinery:
• (a) to send at least one audio/video service to the set-top box;
• (b) to send an application to the set-top box;
• (c) to send a first table including signaling information for the application to the set-top box, the signaling information indicating that the application is a signaled application authorized for being run on the set-top box;
• (d) to send a second table including blocking information to the set-top box, the blocking information being to block running of the signaled application on the set-top box;
• and
• (e) to send a third table not including the blocking information blocking running of the signaled application on the set-top box, the third table overriding the second table so that the blocking of the running of the signaled application is removed on the set-top box.

A method for blocking signaled applications from being run on a set-top box, the method comprising:

• receiving at least one audio/video service;
• receiving an application;
• managing a first table including signaling information indicating that the application is a signaled application authorized for being run on the set-top box;
• receiving a second table including blocking information to block running of the signaled application on the set-top box, the second table being received from a broadcasting Headend;
• blocking running of the signaled application on the set-top box in response to receiving the second table;
• receiving a third table not including the blocking information blocking running of the signaled application on the set-top box, the third table being received from the broadcasting Headend;
• and
• the third table overriding the second table so that the blocking of the running of the signaled application on the set-top box is removed.

A method for blocking a signaled application from being run on a set-top box from a Headend, the method comprising:

• sending at least one audio/video service to the set-top box;
• sending an application to the set-top box;
• sending a first table including signaling information for the application to the set-top box, the signaling information indicating that the application is a signaled application authorized for being run on the set-top box;
• sending a second table including blocking information to the set-top box, the blocking information being for blocking running of the signaled application on the set-top box;
• and
• sending a third table not including the blocking information blocking running of the signaled application on the set-top box, the third table overriding the second table so that the blocking of the running of the signaled application is removed on the set-top box.