Digital television application protocol for interactive television

• US 7,490,346 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Huntington, Matthew, Henrard, Jose, Alao, Rachad, Delpuch, Alain, Lam, Waiman, Dureau, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US10/061,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,566 Days
• Field of Search: 725/118, 725/199, 725/151, 709/230, 709/203
• US Class Current: 725/151
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2542 for selling goods, e.g. TV shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A common communication language that can address all the applications running in a multitude of set top boxes (STBs) or client devices and application servers. The present invention, DATP protocol encapsulates a Meta language that provides a generic portable communication application programmer interface that requires light processor utilization and is well suited for a typical STB possessing limited processing power. DATP requires relatively few processing cycles compared to typical Internet communication protocols. DATP reduces the overhead of the communication protocol handler at the STB and makes the communication protocol handler common for all STBs applications. The preferred DATP protocol is portable for all STBs since it is written in a native language that interfaces with the underlying operating system of the STB. A SGW (SGW) performs as a DATP server. The SGW translates between DATP messages and standard communication protocols. SGW enables SP clients at STBs utilizing DATP to communicate with service applications using a variety of communication protocols. A content converter is provided to convert standard Web content into content suitable for display on a client-viewing device, e.g., a TV.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication in a distributed computer system comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

providing a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

providing a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answering name queries posted to the session a message queue.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

specifying in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

specifying, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

specifying in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

routing, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising:

providing a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing client device access to a mail server.

10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

registering multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

enabling complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

11. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing client account query and return of data from the registration database.

12. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

13. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant messages.

14. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the head end.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising:

displaying the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

completing an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

17. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

18. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

routing a message over a broadcast to the client device.

19. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

20. A method for providing communication in an interactive television system comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

providing a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

providing a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answering name queries posted to the session a message queue.

21. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

22. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

specifying in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

23. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

specifying, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

24. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

25. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

specifying in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

26. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

routing, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

27. The method of claim 26, the method further comprising:

providing a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

28. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing client device access to a mail server.

29. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

registering multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

enabling complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

30. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing client account query and return of data from the registration database.

31. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

32. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant messages.

33. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

receiving a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the head end.

34. The method of claim 33, the method further comprising:

displaying the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

35. The method of claim 34, the method further comprising:

completing an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

36. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

37. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

routing a message over a broadcast to the client device.

38. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

39. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a distributed computer system cause a distributed computer system to:

provide a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

provide an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

provide a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

provide a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answer name queries posted to the session a message queue.

40. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

41. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

specify in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

42. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

specify, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

43. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

44. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

specify in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

45. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

route, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

46. The medium of claim 45, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

47. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide client device access to a mail server.

48. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

register multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

enable complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

49. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide client account query and return of data from the registration database.

50. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

51. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant messages.

52. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

receive a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the head end.

53. The medium of claim 52, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

display the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

54. The medium of claim 53, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

complete an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

55. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

56. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

route a message over a broadcast to the client device.

57. The medium of claim 39, the medium further comprising instructions cause the distributed computer system to:

provide a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

58. A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on a computer in conjunction with an application program for communication in a distributed computing system comprising:

an application program interface for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

an application program interface for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

an application program interface for providing a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

providing a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answering name queries posted to the session a message queue.

59. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

60. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for specifying in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

61. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for specifying, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

62. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

63. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for specifying in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

64. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for routing, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

65. The set of application program interfaces of claim 64, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

66. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing client device access to a mail server.

67. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for registering multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

enabling complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

68. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing client account query and return of data from the registration database.

69. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

70. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant a messages.

71. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for receiving a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the head end.

72. The set of application program interfaces of claim 71, further comprising:

an application program interface for displaying the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

73. The set of application program interfaces of claim 72, further comprising:

an application program interface for completing an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

74. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

75. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for routing a message over a broadcast to the client device.

76. The set of application program interfaces of claim 58, further comprising:

an application program interface for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

77. An apparatus for providing communication in a distributed computer system comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

a computer program component for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

a computer program component for providing a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

a computer program component for providing a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answering name queries posted to the session a message queue.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

80. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

81. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

82. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

83. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for routing, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

85. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing client device access to a mail server.

86. The apparatus of claim 77, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for registering multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

a computer program component for enabling complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

87. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing client account query and return of data from the registration database.

88. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

89. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant messages.

90. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

receiving a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the he ad end.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, the apparatus further comprising:

displaying the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

92. The apparatus of claim 91, the apparatus further comprising:

completing an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

93. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

94. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

routing a message over a broadcast to the client device.

95. The apparatus of claim 77, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

96. An apparatus for providing communication in an interactive television system comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device; and

a computer program component for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

a computer program component for providing a data name service table for matching application server identifiers and application server attributes, the application server attributes comprising host name, port and type;

a computer program component for providing a matching table between a session identifier and session a message queue; and

answering name queries posted to the session a message queue.

97. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a communication interface in the client compatible transport protocol running on top of at least one of a native transport available on the client device and a data link available on the client device.

98. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying in the application level communication protocol, communication behavior between the client and a service provider in communication with the server.

99. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying, in the application level communication protocol, how application specific content is encapsulated in communications between the client and the server.

100. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a plurality of domain specification protocols in the application level communication protocol that enables a modular design for a service platform, enabling addition of a domain specific protocol as a subset of the application level protocol by creating a new DTD for the added domain specific protocol.

101. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for specifying in a transport/service level protocol communication between the server and multiple client devices.

102. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for routing, via a server, of client device a message to a network backend infrastructure comprising a plurality of applications.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a transport level protocol between the client and the server.

104. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for providing client device access to a mail server.

105. The apparatus of claim 96, the method further comprising:

a computer program component for registering multiple accounts for a plurality of services in a registration service in the application level communication protocol; and

a computer program component for enabling complex interaction between the client device and the plurality of services registered in the registration service, the registration service further comprising a single point of integration in the server.

106. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing client account query and return of data from the registration database.

107. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a rule for request and response interaction between the client device and application, the rule modularized in the client device and the server.

108. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a messaging manager for managing communication between a subscriber client and a non-subscriber client, the communication comprising email, chat and instant messages.

109. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

receiving a message at the client device from a head end from a service provider in communication with the head end.

110. The apparatus of claim 109, the apparatus further comprising:

displaying the communication from the service provider to a user at the client device.

111. The apparatus of claim 110, the apparatus further comprising:

completing an e-commerce transaction between the service provider and the client device user.

112. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing multiple pools of communication threads at the server for communication between the server and a plurality of client devices.

113. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

routing a message over a broadcast to the client device.

114. The apparatus of claim 96, the apparatus further comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

115. A method for providing communication in a distributed computer system comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

116. A method for providing communication in an interactive television system comprising:

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

117. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a distributed computer system cause a distributed computer system to:

provide a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data; and

provide an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol;

provide a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

118. A set of application program interfaces embodied on a computer readable medium for execution on a computer in conjunction with an application program for communication in a distributed computing system comprising:

an application program interface for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data;

an application program interface for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol; and

an application program interface for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

119. An apparatus for providing communication in a distributed computer system comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device, the a message containing at least one of application code, control, data, and audio/visual data;

a computer program component for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol; and

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.

120. An apparatus for providing communication in an interactive television system comprising:

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol on a client device, the transport protocol residing on at least one of the client device data link, network, transport and session layers of a network model, for sending a message from the client device and receiving a message at the client device;

a computer program component for providing an application level communication protocol for transmission of a message between the client device and a server, the application level communication protocol running on top of the client compatible communication transport protocol; and

a computer program component for providing a client compatible communication transport protocol header, the header comprising a protocol version number, a protocol type, a STB actual export type, a message sequence number, a service identifier, a session identifier, an encryption flag, and a payload data size.