Addressable account commands

摘要

One embodiment takes the form of an apparatus or method for generating and transmitting distribution system commands addressed by a general identification, such as a customer-specific identification. The general identification may take the form of a customer number or any other identifier unique to a customer account. The identifier may be stored in the computer-readable memory of several or all of the set-top boxes associated with a particular customer such that commands addressed with the unique identifier may be decrypted and executed by the set-top boxes. Thus, a single command addressed with the customer identification may be received and executed by several or all of the set-top boxes for a particular customer without the need for addressing the command to each set-top box individually.

主权项

1. A method for reducing commands transmitted over a distribution system comprising:
providing a unique customer identification number to each set-top box associated with a customer's account; receiving a request command, the request command provided in response to a request by a customer; generating a configuration command from the request command; addressing the configuration command with the customer identification number; and transmitting the customer-addressed configuration command to a plurality of set-top boxes that includes the set top boxes associated with the customer's account, wherein only set-top boxes of the plurality of set-top boxes that are associated with the customer identification number execute the customer-address configuration command.