Patent ID: 7171678

Claim:
A method for selecting a service in a cable system: receiving an input from a user at an application executing in a set top box connected to a cable network, the input pertaining to a selected service offering; receiving data corresponding to the selected service offering at a session manager in the set top box; generating a first session setup request from the session manager wherein the first session setup request includes a network address of a Session Gateway (SESS-G) and further including application level private data in a user-user data element comprising: service data reflective of the selected service offering, and routing data comprising a first routine data identifying a Service Gateway (SVC-G) and a second routing data identifying a service; transmitting the first session setup request from the set top box to a session resource manager (SRM); routing the first session setup request from the SRM to the Session Gateway (SESS-G) based the network address; routing a second session setup request message from the Session Gateway to the Service Gateway (SVC-G) based on the first routing data identifying the SVC-G; routing the second session setup request message from the SVC-G to one of a plurality of services using the second routing data identifying the service; and examining the service data by the service to determine one of a plurality of severs for providing the service selection.