Method and apparatus for managing software downloads in a broadcast communication system

1. A method comprising:

generating a schedule for a software image at a software download manager in response to channel data, said channel data comprising a channel identifier for locating the software image;

generating, in the software download manager, a download resolution file having software image data corresponding to the software image, the channel identifier, and a broadcast location of the software image;

communicating a software image and the download resolution file to a transport processing system in response to the schedule;

broadcasting the software image and the download resolution file;

generating, in the software download manager, an announcement having user device identifiers and a download resolution file location therein;

communicating the announcement to user devices corresponding to the user device identifiers after the software image and the download resolution file are being broadcasted;

in response to the announcement, locating, at the user device, the download resolution file based on the download resolution file location;

determining, at the user device, the broadcast location of the software image from the download resolution file; and

receiving and storing the software image in the user device based on the broadcast location.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the download resolution file location comprises at least one of a network identifier, a service channel identifier, a data rate and a transponder identifier.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising receiving the software image at the software download manager, and storing the software image in a memory of a file system.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting the software image and the download resolution file comprises generating a broadcast request at the software download manager and communicating the request to the transport processing system, retrieving the software image and the download resolution file from the memory and broadcasting the software image and the download resolution file from the transport processing system.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting the software image and the download resolution file comprises generating a broadcast request at the software download manager and communicating the request to the transport processing system, retrieving the software image and the download resolution file from the memory and broadcasting the software image and the download resolution file from the transport processing system through a satellite.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

assigning content channels to priority groups so that the priority groups have group characteristics based on content channel data from the content channels; and

communicating software images through the content channels based on the software image data and the content channel data.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 further comprising communicating the software images from the groups to a transport processing system and broadcasting the software images to the user device from the transport processing system.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the group characteristics comprise continuous download or non-continuous download.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the software image to the software download manager.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating content channel data to the software download manager from a broadcast management system.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating content channel data to the software download manager.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein communicating content channel data comprises communicating at least one of a network identifier, a service channel identifier, a data rate and a transponder identifier.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising scheduling a timing between the download resolution file and the announcement.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the announcement is communicated from a first system and the download resolution file is communicated from a second system different than the first system.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the first system comprises a conditional access system.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the second system comprises a transport processing system.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising assigning a multicast IP identifier and a port identifier to the software image in the software download manager.

18. A system comprising:

a guide system generating content channel data signals comprising a channel identifier for locating a software image;

a software download manager in communication with the guide system and generating an announcement having user device identifiers and a download resolution file location therein for software images, and a download resolution file having software image data corresponding to the software image, the channel identifier and a broadcast location of the software images, said download manager communicating the announcement and the download resolution file; and

a user device having user device identifier data, receiving the download resolution file that is already broadcasting in response to receiving the announcement based on the user device identifier and the download resolution file location, determining the broadcast location of the software image from the download resolution file, receiving and storing a software image of the software images in the user device in response to the broadcast location from the download resolution file.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a conditional access system wherein the software download manager communicates the announcement to the conditional access system.

20. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a transport processing system wherein the software download manager communicates the software image and the download resolution file to the transport processing system.

21. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the download resolution file comprises software image location data.

22. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

a broadcast management system generating a content channel data signal; and

said software download manager receiving the software images, said software download manager forming groups and assigning content channels to groups so that the groups have group characteristics based on content channel data from the content channels;

said software download manager communicating the software images to the groups based on the content channel data and software image data.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 further comprising a transport processing system and a user device, said software download manager communicating the software images from the groups to the transport processing system, said transport processing system broadcasting the software images to the user device.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 wherein the software download manager communicates the software images and a resolution file from the groups to the transport processing system and said transport processing system broadcasting the software images and the resolution file to the user device in response to a broadcast request.