Patent ID: 8078669

Claim:
A head-end apparatus for providing a network-specific on-demand application to consumer premises equipment (CPE) of said network, the apparatus comprising: at least one computer; and at least one computer program having a plurality of instructions for developing a specific protocol useful in implementing said on-demand application according to the method comprising: developing a set of first components to communicate between said head-end and said CPE, said communication comprising: establishing a communications session between said head-end and said CPE; specifying to said CPE a channel on which on-demand content may be accessed by said CPE; and sending or receiving at least one message regarding functional modes; developing a set of second components to process said on-demand content delivered to said CPE; and developing a set of third components to cooperate with individual ones of said first and second components to control said functional modes specific to said on-demand application; wherein each component of said set of first components, said set of second components, and said set of third components is associated with an individual one of a plurality of different multiple systems operator (MSO) environments; and wherein, in response to a request for a particular application from a CPE within an individual one of said plurality of different MSO environments, said computer program of said head-end apparatus further selects for assembly and delivery individual ones of said set of first components, said set of second components, and said set of third components said selection comprising selection of individual ones of said sets specific to said individual one of said plurality of different MSO environments.