1. A digital television application protocol for providing communication between applications running on a client device and a service provider comprising: a meta language comprising an application level communication protocol for communication of messages for requests and information between client applications and service providers; a communication link between a client device and a service provider for sending and receiving requests and information between the service provider and the client; a DATP protocol process residing in the client device for sending a DATP message encapsulating a meta language message to a service provider; and a conversion function for converting the client's DAP request into a DATP message for transmission to the service provider over the communication link.