Patent ID: 8396055

Claim:
For use in a content-based network, a proxy server apparatus comprising: a first interface configured to communicate with a plurality of client devices via said network; a second interface configured to communicate with a plurality of media applications disposed on one or more devices of said network, said plurality of media applications comprising interactive applications configured to enable a user to post comments and to view comments simultaneous to a display of content; and a processor configured to run at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed by said processor are configured to: receive a request from one of said plurality of client devices to access one of said plurality of media applications; determine whether said requested media application is compatible with said one of said plurality of client devices; when said requested media application is compatible with said one of said plurality of client devices, refer said one of said plurality of client devices to said requested application for substantially direct communication therebetween; and when said requested media application is not compatible with said one of said plurality of client devices, facilitate communication therebetween via at least one proxy process.