Patent ID: 8677443

Claim:
A method comprising: creating, at a database, a user record for a user account associated with a single location, wherein the user record comprises: an account identifier to identify the user account; and a plurality of set top box entries associated with a plurality of set top boxes, wherein the plurality of set top boxes are associated with the user account, wherein each set top box entry of the plurality of set top box entries corresponds to a different set top box of the plurality of set top boxes, and wherein a first entry of the plurality of set top box entries includes: a first public identifier, wherein the first public identifier corresponds to and identifies a first set top box of the plurality of set top boxes; and a first private identifier, wherein the first private identifier corresponds to and identifies the first set top box, and wherein the first private identifier is inaccessible by a user; and wherein a second entry of the plurality of set top box entries includes: a second public identifier, wherein the second public identifier corresponds to and identifies a second set top box of the plurality of set top boxes, wherein the second public identifier is distinct from the first public identifier; and a second private identifier, wherein the second private identifier corresponds to and identifies the second set top box, and wherein the second private identifier is inaccessible by a user, wherein the second private identifier is distinct from the first private identifier; receiving a service request that includes the account identifier and the first public identifier corresponding to the first set top box; retrieving the first private identifier based on the account identifier and the first public identifier in response to receiving the service request; and performing a service action on the first set top box using the first private identifier.