Time shifted interactive television

• US 20030163832A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richardson, David, Shlissel, Moshe, Wald, Stephanie, Darshan, Ezra, Wachtfogel, Reuven, Tsuria, Yossi, Bastable, Ian, Fink, David, Cohen, Einat, Vinokurov, Menachem, Jacobs, Eli, Tirosh, Gadi
• Application Number:
  US10/297,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8233 the additional signal being a character code signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing, implementing and using interactive applications and content that are digitally recorded and viewed in real-time and/or a time-shifted mode are provided. The interactive applications may be associated with television programs or may be unrelated thereto, and may be transmitted together with television programs or separately therefrom. Interactive applications that are employed in a time-shifted mode can be matched to current conditions and interactive content may be updated to include current data. Users may view and manipulate highlights of television programs and receive alerts of occurrence of real-time events during viewing of recorded material. Additional manipulations of interactive applications and content are also enabled. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Claims

1. A method for recording interactive content associated with a television program, the method comprising:

receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith;

identifying at least one interactive content stream associated with the television program;

recording the television program and the at least one interactive content stream;

receiving an update of at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream; and

updating said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on said update.

2. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

providing a user unit, and

wherein the receiving the television program, identifying, recording, receiving an update, and updating are performed in the user unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein said interactive content is received repeatedly, and said recording comprises recording the at least one interactive content stream only once.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3 and wherein said update is received repeatedly, and said updating comprises updating said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on said update, only once.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4 and wherein said update comprises an updated version of said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5 and wherein the interactive content stream comprises an interactive application.

7. The method according to claim 6 and wherein the interactive application comprises an interactive application of an integrated/enhanced television category that supports the television program.

8. The method according to claim 7 and wherein the interactive application of an integrated/enhanced television category is synchronized with said television program.

9. The method according to claim 7 or claim 8 and wherein said interactive application of an integrated/enhanced television category comprises at least one of the following:

an interactive application comprising one of the following interactive applications;

an interactive game application;

an interactive shopping application;

an interactive gambling application;

an interactive sports-event application;

an interactive application associated with statistical information;

a statistical application;

an information-providing interactive application; and

an interactive audio/video (A/V) application; and

a combined interactive application comprising a combination of more than one of said interactive applications.

10. The method according to claim 6 and wherein the interactive application comprises an interactive application of an opportunistic enhanced television category.

11. The method according to claim 10 and wherein the interactive application of an opportunistic enhanced television category comprises an interactive application that accompanies said television program but is not directly related to said television program.

12. The method according to claim 10 or claim 11 and wherein said interactive application of an opportunistic enhanced television category comprises at least one of the following:

an interactive application comprising one of the following interactive applications;

an interactive game application;

an interactive shopping application;

an interactive gambling application;

an interactive sports-event application;

an interactive application associated with statistical information;

a statistical application;

an information providing interactive application;

an interactive audio/video (A/V) application; and

a combined interactive application comprising a combination of more than one of said interactive applications.

13. The method according to any of claims 1-12 and wherein said identifying comprises:

programming an intelligent agent to search for interactive information related to said television program; and

employing said intelligent agent to identify said at least one interactive content stream associated with the television program.

14. The method according to any of claims 1-13 and wherein said recording comprises downloading:

the at least one interactive content stream;

metadata corresponding to the at least one interactive content stream; and

software required to run interactive applications comprised in said at least one interactive content stream.

17. The method according to any of claims 1-16 and wherein said updating comprises:

deleting said recorded portion of the at least one interactive content stream; and

recording said update.

18. The method according to any of claims 1-16 and wherein said updating comprises:

replacing said recorded portion of the at least one interactive content stream with a new recorded portion based, at least in part, on said update.

19. The method according to any of claims 1-16 and wherein said updating comprises:

recording said update; and

utilizing said update instead of said recorded portion of the at least one interactive content stream when said portion of the at least one interactive content stream is activated.

20. The method according to any of claims 17-19 and wherein said update is encrypted, and said utilizing comprises:

decrypting said update to obtain a decrypted update; and

utilizing said decrypted update.

21. The method according to claim 17 and wherein said update is encrypted, and said recording comprises recording said update in an encrypted form, and the method also comprises:

decrypting said update to obtain a decrypted update; and

displaying said decrypted update.

15. A method for recording interactive content comprising a stand-alone interactive application, the method comprising:

receiving the interactive content;

identifying at least one interactive content stream comprising said interactive content;

recording the at least one interactive content stream;

receiving an update of at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream; and

updating said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on said update.

16. The method according to claim 15 and wherein said stand-alone interactive application comprises at least one of the following:

an interactive application comprising one of the following interactive applications;

an interactive game application;

an interactive shopping application;

an interactive gambling application;

an interactive sports-event application;

an interactive application associated with statistical information;

a statistical application;

an information providing interactive application; and

an interactive audio/video (A/V) application; and

a combined interactive application comprising a combination of more than one of said interactive applications.

22. A method for recording interactive content associated with a television program, the method comprising:

receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith; and

automatically recording at least some of the interactive content associated with the television program when the television program is viewed in real time.

23. The method according to claim 22 and wherein said interactive content comprises a plurality of separate components, and said automatically recording comprises selectively automatically recording discrete components of said plurality of separate components based on a predetermined selection made, separately or in combination, by at least one of the following:

a user;

a provider of the interactive content;

a provider of the television program;

a provider of a telecommunication service via which the interactive content is provided; and

a provider of a telecommunication service via which the television program is provided.

24. The method according to claim 22 or claim 23 and wherein said television program comprises a cooking program, and the interactive content comprises at least one of the following:

at least one recipe;

nutritional information relating to at least one recipe;

at least one video clip related to at least one recipe;

audio information related to at least one recipe; and

an offer to purchase an item.

25. The method according to claim 22 or claim 23 and wherein said television program comprises a sports program, and the interactive content comprises at least one of the following:

statistics information relating to at least one athlete, team or league;

statistics information relating to at least one sports activity;

personal details of at least one athlete;

at least one video clip related to at least one athlete, team or league;

audio information related to at least one athlete, or to a team or league;

textual information related to at least one athlete, team or league;

multimedia information related to at least one athlete, team or league; and

an offer to purchase an item.

26. The method according to any of claims 22-25 and wherein said automatically recording comprises:

disabling interactive operations on interactive content recorded during a first recording period; and

enabling, at the end of the first recording period, interactive operations on interactive content recorded during the first recording period.

27. The method according to claim 26 and wherein said disabling comprises marking as unavailable at least one of the following:

at least one icon used for at least one interactive operation; and

at least one field used for at least one interactive operation.

28. A method for transmitting interactive content associated with a television program to user units that include storage devices and to user units that do not include storage devices, the method comprising:

transmitting the television program and first interactive content associated therewith, the first interactive content being directed to both user units that include storage devices and user units that do not include storage devices; and

transmitting second interactive content associated with the television program, the second interactive content being directed only to user units that include storage devices.

29. The method according to claim 28 and wherein the first interactive content and the second interactive content are transmitted simultaneously.

30. The method according to claim 28 or claim 29 and wherein the first interactive content and the second interactive content are not identical.

31. The method according to claim 30 and wherein the first interactive content is sufficient to be displayed in real time and the second interactive content is useful for recording in a storage device.

32. A method for preparing a television program in a form suitable for viewing of highlights on a basis of segmentation information, the method comprising:

transmitting segmentation information associated with one of the following;

at least one part of the television program; and

at least one transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit; and

enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of one of the following;

at least one segmented part of the television program; and

at least one segmented transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit.

33. The method according to claim 32 and wherein transmission of said segmentation information associated with at least one part of the television program is performed before transmission of the television program or during real-time transmission of the television program.

36. The method according to any of claims 33-35 and also comprising:

identifying a series of television programs that are of interest to the user; and

storing highlights of all television programs in the series as a highlights album in a memory.

37. The method according to claim 36 and wherein said series of television programs comprises at least one of the following:

a series of games;

a series of games played during a selected time period;

a series of television programs related to a selected topic; and

a series of television programs related to a selected topic played during a selected time period.

38. The method according to claim 36 or claim 37 and wherein said storing comprises:

associating at least one of the following with a highlight transition module;

a highlight; and

a set of highlights of a television program; and

storing the highlight transition module.

39. The method according to claim 38 and also comprising:

displaying the highlight transition module either before or after displaying of the following;

the highlight; and

the set of highlights of the television program.

40. The method according to claim 38 or claim 39 and wherein said highlight transition module comprises at least one of the following:

an advertisement;

a still image or a set of still images;

a module of audio effects;

a module of visual effects; and

a module of audio/visual effects.

34. A method for enabling viewing of highlights of a television program, the method comprising:

generating highlight metadata that defines at least one highlight of the television program;

transmitting the television program in association with said highlight metadata; and

enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of at least one part of the television program that is associated with said at least one highlight.

35. The method of claim 34 and also comprising, prior to said generating:

identifying said at least one highlight; and

preparing said highlight metadata based on the at least one highlight identified.

41. A method for displaying advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the method comprising:

transmitting an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

storing the interactive television application;

transmitting a replacement advertisement; and

associating, in response to said transmitting step, the advertising slot with the replacement advertisement.

42. The method according to claim 41 and also comprising:

providing a user unit, and

wherein the storing and the associating are performed in the user unit.

43. The method according to claim 41 or claim 42 and wherein said transmitting an interactive television application comprises transmitting an initial advertisement in association with the interactive television application;

and

said storing comprises storing the interactive television application and the initial advertisement.

49. The method according to any of claims 41-48 and wherein said at least one item comprises at least one of the following:

a game item;

a background advertisement;

a poster; and

a product for sale.

50. The method according to any of claims 43 and 46-49 and wherein said initial advertisement and said replacement advertisement each comprises one of the following:

a video advertisement;

an audio/video advertisement; and

an audio-only advertisement.

51. The method according to any of claims 43 and 46-50 and wherein said initial advertisement is associated with a first sponsor and said replacement advertisement is associated with a sponsor other than said first sponsor.

44. A method for displaying advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the method comprising:

receiving an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

storing the interactive television application;

receiving a replacement advertisement; and

associating, in response to said transmitting step, the advertising slot with the replacement advertisement.

45. The method according to claim 44 and also comprising:

providing a user unit, and

wherein the receiving, the storing and the associating are performed in the user unit.

46. The method according to claim 44 or claim 45 and wherein said receiving an interactive television application comprises receiving an initial advertisement in association with the interactive television application;

and

said storing comprises storing the interactive television application and the initial advertisement.

47. The method according to claim 46 and also comprising displaying, upon selection by a user, the stored interactive television application with said initial advertisement or said replacement advertisement.

48. The method according to claim 47 and wherein the at least one item has display boundaries, and

said displaying comprises displaying:

the stored interactive television application; and

one of the following within the display boundaries of the at least one item;

said initial advertisement; and

said replacement advertisement.

52. The method according to claim 47 or claim 48 and wherein said displaying comprises applying parental control to displaying of at least one of:

the initial advertisement; and

the replacement advertisement.

53. The method according to claim 52 and wherein said applying comprises:

displaying the replacement advertisement if a parental control parameter allows display of the replacement advertisement, and displaying the initial advertisement if said parental control parameter does not allow display of the replacement advertisement.

54. A method for enabling a user to order a pay television program, the method comprising:

displaying, at a user unit, an interactive magazine which includes an icon for ordering the pay television program; and

enabling a user of the user unit to order the pay television program from the interactive magazine by selecting said icon.

55. A method for displaying alerts to a subscriber of a digital interactive television system, the method comprising:

enabling the subscriber to view a non-real-time recorded interactive television program;

receiving a real-time alert relating to a real-time event; and

displaying the alert.

56. The method according to claim 55 and wherein said displaying comprises displaying the alert in an overlay overlaid on the non-real time recorded interactive television program.

57. The method according to claim 55 or claim 56 and wherein the alert is associated with one of the following:

a program determined to be of interest to the subscriber;

a live program previously viewed by the subscriber;

a program transmitted over a television channel determined to be of interest to the subscriber; and

events of general nature.

58. The method according to any of claims 55-57 and also comprising displaying the real-time event in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window.

59. The method according to claim 58 and wherein said displaying comprises displaying the real-time event in the PIP window in response to a subscriber selection.

60. The method according to any of claims 55-59 and also comprising:

displaying to the subscriber at least one highlight associated with the real-time event; and

enabling the subscriber to catch up with the real-time event by fast-forwarding through the at least one highlight.

61. The method according to claim 60 and also comprising:

enabling the user to tune to the real-time event and view a playback of the real-time event.

62. The method according to any of claims 55-61 and wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the real-time alert in response to at least one of the following:

a predetermined request of the subscriber;

a profile of the subscriber stored by a provider of the alert; and

a determination that the subscriber has previously viewed a program to which said real-time alert is related.

63. A method for displaying interactive modules to a subscriber of a digital television system, the method comprising:

associating an interactive module with a validity tag indicating a term of validity of the interactive module; and

utilizing the interactive module according to a value of the validity tag.

64. The method according to claim 63 and wherein said term of validity of the interactive module comprises at least one of the following:

valid only in a real-time application of the interactive module;

valid in an application of the interactive module that is associated with a real-time clock; and

valid in real-time, delayed viewing and time shifted viewing applications of the interactive module.

65. A method for recording interactive content that is associated with a television program, the interactive content being transmitted in advance of the television program, the method comprising:

recording the interactive content upon receipt;

receiving the television program;

identifying existence of recorded interactive content that is associated with the television program; and

displaying at least part of the interactive content according to one of the following;

together with displaying of the television program; and

after displaying of the television program.

66. The method according to claim 65 and also comprising:

providing a user unit, and

wherein the recording, receiving, identifying, and displaying are performed in the user unit.

67. The method according to claim 65 or claim 66 and also comprising:

receiving an update of at least a portion of the recorded interactive content; and

updating said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content based, at least in part, on said update.

68. The method according to claim 67 and wherein said update is received repeatedly, and said updating comprises updating said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content based, at least in part, on said update, only once.

69. The method according to claim 67 or claim 68 and wherein said update comprises an updated version of said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content.

70. The method according to any of claims 65-69 and wherein the interactive content comprises an interactive application belonging to one of the following categories:

an integrated/enhanced television category; and

an opportunistic enhanced television category.

71. The method according to claim 70 and wherein each of said categories comprises one of the following interactive applications:

an interactive application comprising one of the following interactive applications;

an interactive game application;

an interactive shopping application;

an interactive gambling application;

an interactive sports-event application;

an interactive application associated with statistical information;

a statistical application;

an information-providing interactive application; and

an interactive audio/video (A/V) application; and

a combined interactive application comprising a combination of more than one of said interactive applications.

72. The method according to any of claims 65-71 and wherein said identifying comprises:

programming an intelligent agent to search for interactive information related to said television program; and

employing said intelligent agent to identify said recorded interactive content.

73. The method according to any of claims 65-72 and wherein said recording comprises downloading:

the interactive content;

metadata associated with the interactive content; and

software required to run interactive applications comprised in said interactive content.

74. The method according to any of claims 67-69 and wherein said updating comprises:

recording said update; and

performing at least one of the following;

deleting said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content; and

utilizing said update instead of said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content when said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content is activated.

75. The method according to any of claims 67-69 and wherein said updating comprises:

replacing said at least a portion of the recorded interactive content with a new recorded portion based, at least in part, on said update.

76. Recording apparatus recording interactive content associated with a television program, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith;

a processor identifying at least one interactive content stream associated with the television program; and

a memory recording the television program and the at least one interactive content stream, wherein

said processor updates at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on an update of said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream received by said receiver.

77. Apparatus for recording interactive content associated with a television program, the apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith;

identifying means for identifying at least one interactive content stream associated with the television program; and

means for recording the television program and the at least one interactive content stream, wherein

said receiving means are operative to receive an update of at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream; and

said identifying means are operative to update said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on said update.

78. Recording apparatus recording interactive content comprising a stand-alone interactive application, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving the interactive content;

a processor identifying at least one interactive content stream comprising said interactive content; and

a memory recording the at least one interactive content stream, wherein

said processor updates at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on an update of said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream received by said receiver.

79. Apparatus for recording interactive content comprising a standalone interactive application, the apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving the interactive content;

identifying means for identifying at least one interactive content stream comprising said interactive content; and

means for recording the at least one interactive content stream, wherein

said receiving means are operative to receive an update of at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream; and

said identifying means are operative to update said at least a portion of the at least one recorded interactive content stream based, at least in part, on said update.

80. Recording apparatus recording interactive content associated with a television program, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith;

a memory; and

a processor which automatically records at least some of the interactive content associated with the television program in the memory when the television program is viewed in real time.

81. Apparatus for recording interactive content associated with a television program, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving the television program and the interactive content associated therewith;

storage means; and

processing means for automatically recording at least some of the interactive content associated with the television program in the storage means when the television program is viewed in real time.

82. Transmitting apparatus transmitting interactive content associated with a television program to user units that include storage devices and to user units that do not include storage devices, the apparatus comprising:

a first transmitter transmitting the television program and first interactive content associated therewith, the first interactive content being directed to both user units that include storage devices and user units that do not include storage devices; and

a second transmitter transmitting second interactive content associated with the television program, the second interactive content being directed only to user units that include storage devices.

83. Apparatus for transmitting interactive content associated with a television program to user units that include storage devices and to user units that do not include storage devices, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting the television program and first interactive content associated therewith, the first interactive content being directed to both user units that include storage devices and user units that do not include storage devices; and

means for transmitting second interactive content associated with the television program, the second interactive content being directed only to user units that include storage devices.

84. Apparatus that prepares a television program in a form suitable for viewing of highlights on a basis of segmentation information, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter transmitting segmentation information associated with one of the following;

at least one part of the television program; and

at least one transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit; and

a processor enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of one of the following;

at least one segmented part of the television program; and

at least one segmented transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit.

85. Apparatus for preparing a television program in a form suitable for viewing of highlights on a basis of segmentation information, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting segmentation information associated with one of the following;

at least one part of the television program; and

at least one transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit; and

means for enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of one of the following;

at least one segmented part of the television program; and

at least one segmented transmitted part of the television program that has already been recorded at a user unit.

86. Apparatus that enables viewing of highlights of a television program, the apparatus comprising:

a highlight metadata generator that defines at least one highlight of the television program;

a transmitter transmitting the television program in association with said highlight metadata; and

a processor enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of at least one part of the television program that is associated with said at least one highlight.

87. Apparatus for enabling viewing of highlights of a television program, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating highlight metadata that defines at least one highlight of the television program;

means for transmitting the television program in association with said highlight metadata; and

means for enabling, upon a selection by a user, display of at least one part of the television program that is associated with said at least one highlight.

88. Apparatus that displays advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter transmitting an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

a memory that stores the interactive television application; and

a processor associating the advertising slot with a replacement advertisement transmitted by said transmitter.

89. Apparatus for displaying advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

means for storing the interactive television application;

means for transmitting a replacement advertisement; and

means for associating the advertising slot with the replacement advertisement.

90. Apparatus that displays advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

a memory that stores the interactive television application;

a processor associating the advertising slot with a replacement advertisement received at the receiver.

91. Apparatus for displaying advertisements associated with at least one item of an interactive television application, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an interactive television application including said at least one item, the interactive television application having an advertising slot adapted to be associated with an advertisement associated with said at least one item;

means for storing the interactive television application;

means for receiving a replacement advertisement; and

means for associating the advertising slot with the replacement advertisement.

92. A user unit that enables a user to order a pay television program, the user unit comprising:

a display displaying an interactive magazine which includes an icon for ordering the pay television program; and

a processor enabling the user to order the pay television program from the interactive magazine by selecting said icon.

93. Apparatus at a user unit for enabling a user to order a pay television program, the apparatus comprising:

means for displaying an interactive magazine which includes an icon for ordering the pay television program; and

means for enabling the user of the user unit to order the pay television program from the interactive magazine by selecting said icon.

94. Apparatus that displays alerts to a subscriber of a digital interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor enabling the subscriber to view a non-real-time recorded interactive television program;

a receiver receiving a real-time alert relating to a real-time event; and

a display displaying the alert.

95. Apparatus for displaying alerts to a subscriber of a digital interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

means for enabling the subscriber to view a non-real-time recorded interactive television program;

means for receiving a real-time alert relating to a real-time event; and

means for displaying the alert.

96. Apparatus that displays interactive modules to a subscriber of a digital television system, the apparatus comprising:

a tagging unit associating an interactive module with a validity tag indicating a term of validity of the interactive module; and

a processor utilizing the interactive module according to a value of the validity tag.

97. Apparatus for displaying interactive modules to a subscriber of a digital television system, the apparatus comprising:

means for associating an interactive module with a validity tag indicating a term of validity of the interactive module; and

means for utilizing the interactive module according to a value of the validity tag.

98. Recording apparatus recording interactive content that is associated with a television program, the interactive content being transmitted in advance of the television program, the apparatus comprising:

a memory that records the interactive content upon receipt;

a receiver receiving the television program;

a processor identifying existence of recorded interactive content that is associated with the television program; and

a display displaying at least part of the interactive content according to one of the following;

together with displaying of the television program; and

after displaying of the television program.

99. Apparatus for recording interactive content that is associated with a television program, the interactive content being transmitted in advance of the television program, the apparatus comprising:

means for recording the interactive content upon receipt;

means for receiving the television program;

means for identifying existence of recorded interactive content that is associated with the television program; and

means for displaying at least part of the interactive content according to one of the following;

together with displaying of the television program; and

after displaying of the television program.