METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHORIZATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS AND FEATURES IN DIGITAL COMMUNICATION TERMINALS VIA A CENTRAL BILLING SYSTEM

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for allowing billing systems (105) to authorize and specify services, using service handles, for applications, features of applications, terminal features associated with applications or features of applications, in digital communication terminals (150) (e.g., television set-top boxes). In particular, the present invention relates to the authorization by a billing system (105) of software applications and features of communication terminals (150) which are operating in a Multiple Applications Management (MAM) (165) environment. Applications may include virtual applications which can be identified, downloaded (110), and enabled under the control of the MAM (165).