Method and system for downloading and managing the enablement of a list of code objects

The present invention relates to the field of programming or re-programming a set-top terminal in a cable television system. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of controlling the download of programming, such as an operating system or native suite objects, for a set-top terminal over the cable network for initial or upgrade programming of the set-top terminal. A method and system manages and controls the download of programming, i.e., code objects, to a set-top terminal connected to a cable television system so as to prevent disruptions to service that may arise if only some of the objects specified are successfully downloaded and might, therefore, function improperly or conflict with existing applications. When the message to download new or additional code objects lists two or more objects to be acquired, the set-top terminal will only enable and execute downloaded objects if all the listed objects are successfully acquired. If only some of the objects the terminal has been instructed to download are acquired, those downloaded objects may either be purged or stored in memory without being enabled and executed. The system operator may specify in the message instructing the terminal to acquire new objects, whether the listed objects must be implemented as a group or not at all. The system operator may similarly specify if objects from an incomplete download are to be purged from memory.