System and associated methods for remotely enabling features

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.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method of selectively enabling one or more features in an application loaded on a requesting client in a communication network, the requesting client located remotely from a server, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the requesting client, a data profile request identifying at least one particular feature on a particular application loaded on the requesting client to be selectively enabled;   generating, at the server, based on the data profile request, and transmitting a digital message comprising a first message portion comprising a profile key to identify the requesting client and a second message portion,   wherein the profile key is receivable and readable by a plurality of clients in the communication network, but the second message portion is receivable and readable only by the requesting client; and   enabling on the requesting client, based on the second message portion, after the requesting client ensures that the profile key corresponds to the requesting client, each particular feature in the particular application.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the second message portion identifies each particular feature to be enabled on the client. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the second message portion identifies the application for each identified particular feature. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the requesting client corresponds to a group of clients, each making a similar data profile request. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the transmitted data profile identifying the requesting client identifies the group of clients. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the requesting client is selected from the group consisting of a workstation, a client device, a personal computer, a head-end, a home media gateway, a cell phone, a personal data assistant, an electronic device, a set-top box, and a digital delivery system. 
     
     
         48 . A method of selectively enabling one or more features in an application loaded on a requesting client in a communication network, the requesting client located remotely from a server, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an identified requesting client, a signal comprising at least one particular feature in the application loaded on the requesting client to be selectively enabled;   generating, at the server, and transmitting a first portion of an enabling signal to enable each requested particular feature from the requesting client, wherein the first portion identifies, by a profile key, the requesting client;   generating, at the server, and transmitting a second portion of the enabling signal, wherein the second portion identifies the at least one particular feature to be enabled on the application loaded on the requesting client;   receiving, at the requesting client, the second portion of the enabling signal only after checking, at the requesting client, that the profile key in the first portion corresponds to the requesting client; and   enabling each identified particular feature.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the requesting client is selected from the group consisting of a workstation, a client device, a personal computer, a head-end, a home media gateway, a cell phone, a personal data assistant, an electronic device, a set-top box, and a digital delivery system. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the requesting client corresponds to a group of clients. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the transmitted profile key identifies each client in the group of clients. 
     
     
         52 . A method of remotely selectively enabling, by a server, one or more features in an application loaded on a client in a communication network, the client located remotely from the server, the method comprising:
 receiving signals from a plurality of clients;   identifying, by the server, at least one client from the plurality of clients to receive a digital message, wherein each recipient of the digital message is associated with at least one of (i) a geographic area and (ii) an identification code and;   generating, at the server, and transmitting the digital message to the plurality of clients,   wherein the digital message comprises a first message portion comprising a profile key receivable and readable by all clients in the communication network and a second message portion receivable and readable only by at least one of (i) recipients in a desired geographic area and (ii) recipients having a specific identification code; and   enabling on a discrete client, based on the second message portion and after checking, at the discrete client, that the profile key corresponds to the discrete client, each particular feature in the application.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the received signals are transmitted to the server once each client has been powered on. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the profile key comprises information identifying the desired geographic area to receive a particular feature to be enabled. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the information comprises a zip code. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the profile key comprises information identifying the specific identification code. 
     
     
         57 . A system for selectively enabling one or more features in an application loaded on a requesting client in a communication network, the system comprising:
 a communication output;   a memory for storing computer-executable instructions;   a processing device in communication remotely with the requesting client and structured and arranged to execute the computer-executable instructions to:   receive, from the requesting client, a data profile request identifying at least one particular feature on a particular application loaded on the requesting client to be selectively enabled;   generate a digital message comprising a first message portion comprising a profile key to identify the requesting client and a second message portion, wherein the profile key is receivable and readable by a plurality of clients in the communication network, but the second message portion is receivable and readable only by the requesting client;   transmit, by the communication output, the digital message; and   enable on the requesting client, based on the second message portion, after the requesting client ensures that the profile key corresponds to the requesting client, each particular feature in the particular application.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the requesting client is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a cell phone, a personal data assistant, a computer, and an electronic device. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the processing device is selected from the group consisting of a workstation, a personal computer, a head-end, a home media gateway, an electronic device, a set-top box, and a server associated with a mobile phone service provider, a server associated with an Internet service provider, and a digital delivery system. 
     
     
         60 . A system for selectively enabling one or more features in an application loaded on a requesting client in a communication network, the system comprising:
 a communication output;   a memory for storing computer-executable instructions;   a processing device in communication remotely with the requesting client and structured and arranged to execute the computer-executable instructions to:
 receive, from an identified requesting client, a signal comprising at least one particular feature in the application loaded on the requesting client to be selectively enabled; 
 generate a first portion of an enabling signal to enable each requested particular feature from the requesting client, wherein the first portion identifies, by a profile key, the requesting client; 
 generate a second portion of the enabling signal, wherein the second portion identifies the at least one particular feature to be enabled on the application loaded on the requesting client; 
 transmit, by the communication output, the first and second portions of the enabling signal; and 
 enable on the requesting client each identified particular feature. 
   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the processing device is selected from the group consisting of a workstation, a personal computer, a head-end, a home media gateway, an electronic device, a set-top box, and a server associated with a mobile phone service provider, a server associated with an Internet service provider, and a digital delivery system.