Method and system of configuring media units from different vendors using a single bulk configuration file

1. A method of configuring settop boxes (STBs) used to support cable television services for a single cable television service provider, the method comprising:

providing a single bulk configuration file having multiple sets of instructions suitable for configuring the STBs, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for configuring STBs associated with at least two different STB vendors, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for configuring each of the STBs according to different configuration requirements associated therewith;

transporting the bulk configuration file from the cable television service provider to the STBs for use in configuring the STBs such that portions of the bulk configuration file are used to configure STBs from different STB vendors; and

associating the instructions within the bulk configuration file with indicators associated with the different STB configuration requirements, and configuring the STBs to parse the instructions of the bulk configuration file as a function of the indicators included therein and without decrypting any portion of the bulk configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the STBs to request the bulk configuration file from the cable television service provider and to self-configure upon receipt of the configuration file.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring the STBs to only self-configure as a function of the parsed configuration instructions.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising including identifiers on the STBs for use in parsing the instructions.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising including event logging instructions within the bulk configuration file, the event logging instructions including parameters associated with logging data as a function of STB events.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising instructing the STBs to transmit the logged data to the network element.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising including instructions for configuring remote management of the STBs.

8. A method of configuring media units used to support various services from a single cable television service provider, the method comprising:

providing a single unencrypted bulk configuration file having multiple sets of instructions suitable for configuring the media units, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for configuring STBs associated with at least two different media unit vendors, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for configuring each of the media units according to different configuration requirements associated therewith; and

transporting the unencrypted bulk configuration file to the media units over a closed network associated with the service provider for use in configuring the media units such that portions of the bulk configuration file are used to configure media units from different media unit vendors and the bulk configuration file is transported to the media units in an unencrypted state whereby the media units process the bulk configuration file without performing decryption and security for the bulk configuration file is provided by the closed network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the media units to request the bulk configuration file from the service provider and to self-configure upon receipt of the configuration file.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising associating the instructions within the bulk configuration file with indicators associated with the different configuration requirements, and configuring the media units to parse the instructions of the bulk configuration file as a function of the indicators included therein and without decrypting any portion of the bulk configuration file.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring the media units to only self-configure as a function of the parsed configuration instructions.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising including identifiers on the media units for use in parsing the instructions.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising periodically broadcasting the bulk configuration file to the media units and including instructions therein to configure the media units to periodically check for updates to the bulk configuration file.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising including instructions within the bulk configuration file to facilitate remote control of the media units.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the media units are settop boxes (STBs) associated with supporting cable television services and the method further comprising transporting the bulk configuration file over the closed network through out-of-band, one-way communications with the STBs.

16. An electronic system of providing electronic services to customers, the services being provided over a cable television network and with the assistance of a number of settop boxes (STBs), the system comprising:

an unencrypted bulk configuration file having instructions for configuring the STBs, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for configuring each of the STBs according to different configuration requirements associated with a vendor thereof, wherein the bulk configuration file includes instructions for at least two different vendors;

a network element configured to communicate with the STBs over a closed network, wherein the network element transports the bulk configuration file to the STBs for use in configuring the STBs such that portions of the bulk configuration file are used to configure STBs from different STB vendors and the bulk configuration file is transported to the STBs in an unencrypted state whereby the STBs process the bulk configuration file without performing decryption and security for the bulk configuration file is provided by the closed network; and

wherein the network element is configured to transmit an unencrypted updated bulk configuration file to the STBs, the updated bulk configuration file including updated instructions for at least one of the STBs to be updated and the same instructions as the bulk configuration for STBs not to be updated, wherein the STBs are configured to compare the portion of the bulk configuration file associated therewith to determine changes in the bulk configuration file, whereby only the STBs associated with the changes are updated through subsequent self-configuration based on the updated bulk configuration file.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the settop boxes (STBs) receive the bulk configuration file through out-of-bound, one-way messaging.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the network element is a network provisioning unit (NPU).

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the network element is configured to transport the bulk configuration file according to HTTP, DOCSIS, DSG, or TFTP protocols.