Patent ID: 7627868

Claim:
A method for distributing software comprising: producing a host file by a host software manufacturer; providing the host file from the host software manufacturer to a certification entity; testing the operation of the host file by the certification entity; certifying the host file for operation in a host wherein certifying the host file for operation in a host comprises certifying the host file is compatible with a host associated with a specific host manufacturer and a model associated with the specific host manufacturer; establishing a first connection from a data processing system to a host file database wherein said host file include at least one of a host protocol file, host data file, host profile file, or host configuration message set file, wherein said host profile file indicates one of a plurality of resources incorporated in the host, wherein at least one of the resources processes digital video signals received by the host over a cable distribution system, wherein further the host profile file is used to create a user-interface in a configuration message set creation system used to create at least one host configuration message, wherein said at least one host configuration message is sent to a host; transferring the host file from the data processing system to the host file database after the host file has been certified by the certification entity; receiving confirmation of receipt of the host software file from the host file database; identifying an enhanced services system to receive the host software file; establishing a second connection from the host file database to the enhanced services system; and transferring the host file from the host file database to the enhanced services system.