Interactive information services control system

• US 5,481,542 A
• Filed: 11/10/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wall, William E. Jr., Addington, Timothy H., Wasilewski, Anthony J., Logston, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US08/149,929
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/94.3, 370/95.1, 370/95.3, 370/110.1, 359/135, 359/136, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0298 with sub-carrier multiplexing [SCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0032 Fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0033 Metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0041 Star, e.g. cross-connect, concentrator, subscriber group equipment, remote electronics
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/008 Support of video
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

A digital video, audio and data distribution system which enables a set-top terminal (STT) associated with a customer'"'"'s television set or other information presentation device to request interactive digital video, audio and data services from a service provider (SP) through the use of control system messages transmitted via a hi-directional signalling path. The requested interactive service is transmitted from the service provider over a portion of the bandwidth of a broadband transmission network which is dedicated to interactive digital services. A Video Session Connection (VSC) is provided for setting up and maintaining interactive sessions between the set-top terminal and a video service provider during the time the interactive programming is provided to the customer. The set-top terminal and service provider establish the Video Session Connection via a two-way signalling path within the bandwidth of the transmission medium into the customer'"'"'s home. Applications of the system of the invention include "movie on demand" services where the set-top terminal not only requests a movie to be transmitted from the service provider for immediate transmission, but also the bi-directional command channel permits the set-top terminal to control the video presentation by sending commands such as Play, Pause, Fast-Forward and the like to the Service Provider while the movie is being transmitted. Other applications of the invention include on-line data retrieval services, shop at home services and other services which require the use of an interactive connection.

Claims

1. An interactive information services system for providing at least one of video, audio, and data programs requested by a customer from a data service provider (SP) and routing a requested program over a transmission link having a predetermined bandwidth to a set top terminal (STT) associated with an information presentation device of said customer, and for providing said customer with real-time interactive access to said requested program during presentation of said requested program to said STT by said SP, comprising:

a unidirectional communication path from said SP to a plurality of STTs including said customer'"'"'s STT for providing said requested program to said customer'"'"'s STT for presentation of said requested program via said customer'"'"'s information presentation device, said unidirectional communication path including said transmission link; and

a bi-directional communication path between said STT and said SP for communicating data and presentation control commands between said STT and said SP during presentation of said requested program to said customer'"'"'s information presentation device, said bi-directional communication path also including said transmission link,

wherein said presentation control commands initiate and control presentation of said requested program on said information presentation device in a real-time manner.

2. An interactive information services system as in claim 1, wherein said transmission link comprises at least one of optical fibers, a satellite communications link, an over the air communications link, and a cable connecting said STT to a connection management computer which, in turn, provides said requested program from said SP via said transmission link to said customer'"'"'s STT.

3. An interactive information services system as in claim 1, wherein said SP comprises means for digitizing and compressing said requested program into asynchronous data packet streams prior to transmission of said requested program over said unidirectional communication path to said customer'"'"'s STT.

4. An interactive information services system as in claim 3, wherein said unidirectional communication path comprises:

means for multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;

a demultiplexer which demultiplexes said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope;

modulation means responsive to said demultiplexer for modulating said data packet streams onto analog video carriers;

a digital network which transmits said synchronous data payload envelope from said multiplexing means to said demultiplexer; and

said transmission link, where said transmission link transmits said analog video carriers from said modulation means to said customer'"'"'s STT.

5. An interactive information services system as in claim 4, wherein said modulation means scrambles said data packet streams, encodes said scrambled data packet streams using an error correction algorithm, interleaves data packets of said encoded data packet streams, and maps said interleaved data packets into a payload area of a multi-rate transport (MRT) packet on an analog video carrier.

6. An interactive information services system as in claim 1, wherein said bi-directional communication path comprises:

said transmission link;

a digital communications link; and

a connection management computer responsive to presentation control commands from said SP received over said digital communications link and responsive to presentation control commands from said STT received over said transmission link for establishing a bi-directional communication link between said SP and said STT during presentation of said requested program to said customer'"'"'s information presentation device.

7. An interactive information services system as in claim 6, wherein said SP and said STT communicate via said bi-directional communication link without intervention of said connection management computer once said bi-directional communication link is established.

8. An interactive information services system as in claim 1, wherein said bi-directional communication path comprises:

a forward communication path from said SP to said customer'"'"'s STT comprising a digital communications link to said SP, means for modulating a message received from said SP via said digital communications link onto an analog video carrier, and said transmission link to said customer'"'"'s STT; and

a reverse communication path from said customer'"'"'s STT to said SP comprising said transmission link, means for demodulating a message received from said customer'"'"'s STT via said transmission link, and said digital communications link to said SP.

9. An interactive information services system as in claim 8, further comprising a connection management computer in said forward and reverse communication paths for establishing and maintaining said forward and reverse communication paths between said SP and said customer'"'"'s STT during presentation of said requested program to said customer'"'"'s information presentation device.

10. An interactive information services system as in claim 8, wherein said transmission link has a predetermined frequency band, a first portion of said predetermined frequency band being allocated for providing said requested program to said customer'"'"'s STT and for providing said forward communication path from said SP to said customer'"'"'s STT, a second portion of said predetermined frequency band being allocated for providing said reverse communication path from said customer'"'"'s STT to said SP, and a third portion of said predetermined frequency band being allocated between said first and second portions to provide a guard band therebetween to minimize cross-talk between said reverse communication path and said forward communication path and between said reverse communication path and said requested program.

11. An interactive information services system as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of customers having STTs concurrently access said bi-directional communication path between said STT and said SP in accordance with a time division multiple access (TDMA ) technique in which each STT is assigned by a connection management computer (CMC) in said bi-directional communication path at least one time slot in a data stream from said STT to said SP for transmission of presentation control commands and data to said SP during presentation of said requested program.

12. An interactive information services system as in claim 11, wherein said STT and CMC communicate via message cells specifying a unique communications path and channel address between said STT and said CMC, whereby a message from said CMC occupying more than one message cell is given the same communications path and channel address in said more than one message cell.

13. An interactive information services system as in claim 11, wherein each STT receives a framed bit stream from said connection management computer over said bi-directional communication path, said framed bit stream including a frame counter value in each frame of said framed bit stream which is used by said STT to calculate said at least one time slot in said data stream from said STT to said SP for transmission of said presentation control commands and data to said SP during presentation of said requested program.

14. An interactive information services system as in claim 13, wherein an interval between respective time slots assigned to a particular STT is dynamically adjusted by said connection management computer in accordance with a volume of presentation control commands and data from other STTs over said bi-directional communication path.

15. An interactive information services system as in claim 11, wherein data contention among said STTs is resolved using a slotted ALOHA technique whereby each of said STTs is synchronized to a common clock and each STT can only begin a transmission of presentation control commands and data at a boundary between respective time slots.

16. An interactive information services system as in claim 15, wherein each STT assumes that data collision has occurred if that STT does not receive an echo signal within a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data and then retransmits said presentation control commands and data during a randomly selected time slot occurring after said predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

17. An interactive information services system as in claim 15, wherein each STT assumes that data collision has occurred if that STT does not receive an echo signal within a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data and then retransmits said presentation control commands and data on an alternate signalling frequency in said bi-directional communication path.

18. An interactive information services system as in claim 15, wherein each time slot assigned to said STTs includes a guard band which accounts for propagation time differences of said presentation control commands and data from said STTs via said transmission link.

19. A method of providing at least one of video, audio, and data programs requested by a customer from a data service provider (SP) and routing a requested program over a transmission link having a predetermined bandwidth to a set top terminal (STT) associated with an information presentation device of said customer, and for providing said customer with real-time interactive access to said requested program during presentation of said requested program to said STT by said SP, comprising the steps of:

establishing a unidirectional communication path from said SP to a plurality of STTs including said customer'"'"'s STT for providing said requested program to said customer'"'"'s STT for presentation of said requested program via said customer'"'"'s information presentation device, said unidirectional communication path including said transmission link;

establishing a bi-directional communication path between said STT and said SP for communicating data and presentation control commands between said STT and said SP during presentation of said requested program to said customer'"'"'s information presentation device, said bi-directional communication path also including said transmission link; and

initiating and controlling presentation of said requested program on said information presentation device in a real-time manner in response to said presentation control commands communicated between said STT and said SP via said bi-directional communication path.

20. A method as in claim 19, comprising the further steps of digitizing said requested program, compressing the digitized program into asynchronous data packet streams, and then transmitting the compressed program over said unidirectional communication path to said customer'"'"'s STT.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein said transmitting step comprises the further steps of:

multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;

transmitting said synchronous data payload envelope to a demultiplexer;

demultiplexing said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope;

modulating said data packet streams onto analog video carriers; and

transmitting said analog video carriers to said customer'"'"'s STT.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said modulating step comprises the steps of scrambling said data packet streams, encoding said scrambled data packet streams using an error correction algorithm, interleaving data packets of said encoded data packet streams, and mapping said interleaved data packets into a payload area of a multi-rate transport (MRT) packet on an analog video carrier.

23. A method as in claim 19, wherein said initiating and controlling step comprises the step of providing pass-through communication between said SP and said STT over said bi-directional communication path.

24. A method of establishing an information session connection between a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT) and a data services provider (SP), comprising the steps of:

establishing a first bi-directional communications path between said SP and a connection management computer (CMC);

establishing a second bi-directional communications path between said STT and said CMC, said second bi-directional communications path including a information service connection between said STT and said CMC; and

upon request by said STT, said CMC connecting said first and second bi-directional communications paths to each other to establish said information session connection between said SP and said STT, said information session connection permitting presentation control commands and data to flow from said SP to said STT and from said STT to said SP during presentation of a data service by said SP to said STT via an information service communications path, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling, on a real-time basis, presentation of said data service to an information presentation device connected to said STT.

25. A method of providing at least one of a video, audio, and information data service from a data service provider (SP) to a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT), comprising the step of:

providing said data service from said SP to said STT via a first communications path;

said STT providing presentation control commands and data to said SP via a second communications path from said STT to said SP, said first and second communications paths including a common communications link connecting at least said STT to a headend, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT; and

said SP varying, on a real-time basis, its presentation of said data service to said STT via said common communications link in response to said presentation control commands and data received from said STT via said common communications link.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the steps of assigning, in accordance with a time division multiple access (TDMA ) technique, said STT at least one time slot in a data stream transmitted over said common communications link from said STT to said SP, and inserting said presentation control commands and data from said STT in said at least one time slot for transmission in said data stream over said common communications link from said STT to said SP.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein said STT and SP communicate via message cells specifying a unique communications path and channel address between said STT and said SP, whereby a message from said SP occupying more than one message cell is given the same communications path and channel address in said more than one message cell.

28. A method as in claim 26, comprising the further steps of transmitting a framed bit stream from a connection management computer in said second communications path, said framed bit stream including a frame counter value in each frame of said framed bit stream, and said STT calculating said at least one time slot in said data stream in accordance with a received frame counter value from said connection management computer.

29. A method as in claim 28, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the step of dynamically adjusting an interval between respective time slots assigned to said STT by said connection management computer in accordance with a volume of presentation control commands and data from other STTs over said common communications link.

30. A method as in claim 26, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the step of resolving data contention among a plurality of STTs connected over said common communications link to said headend in accordance with a slotted ALOHA technique whereby each of said plurality of STTs is synchronized to a common clock and each of said plurality of STTs can only begin a transmission of presentation control commands and data at a boundary between respective time slots.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the steps of sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said common communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said common communications link to said headend during a randomly selected time slot occurring after said predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

32. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the steps of sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said common communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said common communications link to said headend on an alternate signalling frequency.

33. A method as in claim 30, wherein said step of providing presentation control commands and data to said SP comprises the step of adding a guard band to each of said time slots which accounts for propagation time differences of said presentation control commands and data from said plurality of STTs along said common communications link.

34. A method of transmitting presentation control commands and data from a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT) to a data service provider (SP) via a reverse communication path from said STT to said SP, said reverse communication path connecting at least said STT to a headend and including a communications link which also transmits a data service from said P to said STT, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, comprising the steps of:

assigning each STT connected to said communications link at least one time slot in a data stream transmitted over said communications link from said STT to said SP;

inserting said presentation control commands and data from said STT in its assigned at least one time slot; and

transmitting said data stream via said communications link from said STT to said SP.

35. A method as in claim 34, wherein said assigning step includes the steps of transmitting a framed bit stream in a forward communication path from said SP to said STT, said framed bit stream including a frame counter value in each frame of said framed bit stream, and said STT calculating said at least one time slot in said data stream in accordance with a frame counter value received over said forward communication path.

36. A method as in claim 34, comprising the further step of dynamically adjusting an interval between respective time slots assigned to said STT in accordance with a volume of presentation control commands and data from each other STT connected to said communications link.

37. A method as in claim 34, comprising the further step of resolving data contention among a plurality of STTs connected over said communications link to said headend in accordance with a slotted ALOHA technique whereby each of said plurality of STTs is synchronized to a common clock and each of said plurality of STTs can only begin a transmission of presentation control commands and data at a boundary between respective time slots.

38. A method as in claim 37, comprising the further steps of sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said communications link to said headend during a randomly selected time slot occurring after said predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

39. A method as in claim 37, comprising the further steps of sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said communications link to said headend on an alternate signalling frequency.

40. A method as in claim 37, comprising the further step of adding a guard band to each of said time slots which accounts for propagation time differences of said presentation control commands and data from said plurality of STTs along said communications link.

41. A system for transmitting presentation control commands and data from a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT) to a data service provider (SP) via a reverse communication path from said STT to said SP, said reverse communication path connecting at least said STT to a headend and including a communications link which also transmits a data service from said SP to said STT, and said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, said system comprising:

means for assigning each STT connected to said communications link at least one time slot in a data stream transmitted over said communications link from said STT to said SP;

means for inserting said presentation control commands and data from said STT in its assigned at least one time slot; and

means for transmitting said data stream via said communications link from said STT to said SP.

42. A system as in claim 41, wherein said assigning means includes means for transmitting a framed bit stream in a forward communication path from said SP to said STT, said framed bit stream including a frame counter value in each frame of said framed bit stream, and said STT includes means for calculating said at least one time slot in said data stream in accordance with a frame counter value received over said forward communication path from said transmitting means.

43. A system as in claim 41, further comprising means for dynamically adjusting an interval between respective time slots assigned to said STT in accordance with a volume of presentation control commands and data from each other STT connected to said communications link.

44. A system as in claim 41, further comprising means for resolving data contention among a plurality of STTs connected over said communications link to said headend in accordance with a slotted ALOHA technique whereby each of said plurality of STTs is synchronized to a common clock and each of said plurality of STTs can only begin a transmission of presentation control commands and data at a boundary between respective time slots.

45. A system as in claim 44, further comprising means for sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said communications link to said headend during a randomly selected time slot occurring after said predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

46. A system as in claim 44, further comprising means for sending an echo signal from said STT when said presentation control commands and data are transmitted over said communications link to said headend, said STT listening for its echo signal for a predetermined amount of time after its transmission of said presentation control commands and data, and said STT retransmitting, when said echo signal is not received by said STT within said predetermined amount of time, said presentation control commands and data over said communications link to said headend on an alternate signalling frequency.

47. A system as in claim 44, further comprising means for adding a guard band to each of said time slots which accounts for propagation time differences of said presentation control commands and data from said plurality of STTs along said communications link.

48. A method of providing digital data comprising at least one of digital video, audio, and information data from a data service provider (SP) to a communications network for transmission to a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT), comprising the steps of:

formatting said digital data from said SP into asynchronous data packet streams having a predetermined packet format;

multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;

interleaving error correction data with said data packet streams in said synchronous data payload envelope;

transmitting said synchronous data payload envelope to a headend over said communications network;

demultiplexing de-interleaving, and error correcting said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope at said headend;

modulating, at said headend, said demultiplexed, de-interleaved and error corrected data packet streams onto analog video carriers corresponding to predetermined video channels of said STT; and

transmitting said analog video carriers from said headend to said STT.

49. A method as in claim 48, wherein said modulating step comprises the steps of scrambling said data packet streams, encoding said scrambled data packet streams using an error correction algorithm, interleaving data packets of said encoded data packet streams, and mapping said interleaved data packets into a payload area of a multi-rate transport (MRT) packet on an analog video carrier.

50. A method as in claim 49, wherein said mapping step comprises the step of Quaternary Amplitude Modulating (QAM) said interleaved data packets onto said analog video carrier.

51. A method as in claim 48, comprising the further step of compressing said digital data from said SP prior to said formatting step.

53. A system as in claim 51, wherein said modulating means scrambles said data packet streams, encodes said scrambled data packet streams using an error correction algorithm, interleaves data packets of said encoded data packet streams, and maps said interleaved data packets into a payload area of a multi-rate transport (MRT) packet on an analog video carrier.

54. A system as in claim 53, wherein said modulating means comprises a Quaternary Amplitude Modulator (QAM) which modulates said interleaved data packets onto said analog video carrier.

52. A system for providing digital data comprising at least one of digital video, audio, and information data from a data service provider (SP) to a communications network for transmission to a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT), comprising:

means under control of said SP for formatting said digital data from said SP into asynchronous data packet streams having a predetermined packet format;

means for multiplexing said data packet streams into a synchronous data payload envelope of a predetermined format;

means for interleaving error correction data with said data packet streams in said synchronous data payload envelope;

means for transmitting said synchronous data payload envelope to a headend over said communications network;

means for demultiplexing, de-interleaving, and error correcting said data packet streams from said synchronous data payload envelope;

means for modulating said demultiplexed, de-interleaved and error corrected data packet streams onto analog video carriers corresponding to predetermined video channels of said STT; and

means for transmitting said analog video carriers from said headend to said STT.

55. A system as in claim 52, wherein said formatting means comprises means for compressing said digital data from said SP prior to formatting said digital data from said SP into said data packet streams.

56. A method of establishing a bi-directional connection between a data services provider (SP) and a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT) for passage of presentation control commands and data between said SP and said STT during the presentation of a data service from said SP to said STT, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said data service from said SP to said STT, said method comprising the steps of:

said STT sending to a connection management computer (CMC), via an information service connection connecting said STT to said connection management computer, a request for a connection to a particular data service provided by said SP;

said CMC sending, via a communications link with said SP, a request to said SP indicating that said STT has requested a connection to said particular data service;

if said SP indicates that said particular data service is available to said STT, said CMC allocating a portion of a bandwidth of said information service connection for transmission of said particular data service and assigning a program number to said particular data service and an input channel by which said SP is to connect over a digital network to said CMC;

said CMC notifying said SP of said program number and said input channel;

said SP connecting to said CMC over said digital network via said input channel and notifying said CMC that a connection between said CMC and SP has been made;

said CMC sending a message to said STT via said information service connection indicating that said particular data service is available;

said STT sending a request to said CMC requesting a connection to said connection between said CMC and said SP;

if said request by said STT for connection to said connection between said CMC and said SP is approved, said CMC allocating time slots during which said STT may communicate with said SP within said information service connection; and

said CMC connecting said STT to said connection between said CMC and said SP so that said STT may send messages to said SP during presentation of said particular data service.

57. A method as in claim 56, comprising the further step of said STT sending presentation control commands and data to said SP along a pass-through communication path without intervention by said CMC.

58. A method as in claim 56, comprising the further step of tearing down said bi-directional connection between said SP and said STT, said tearing down step comprising the steps of:

said STT sending a request to said CMC that said connection to said particular data service be disconnected;

said CMC sending, via said communications link with said SP, a request to said SP indicating that said STT has requested that said connection to said particular data service be disconnected;

said SP sending to said STT, via said CMC, an acknowledgement of said request that said connection to said particular data service be disconnected;

said CMC sending disconnect commands to said STT and said SP; and

said CMC deallocating said time slots within said information service connection upon receipt of acknowledgements by said SP and said STT that said disconnect commands have been received.

59. A method of establishing a bi-directional connection between a data services provider (SP) and a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT) for passage of presentation control commands and data between said SP and said STT during the presentation of a continuous feed data service from said SP to said STT, said presentation control commands initiating and controlling presentation of said continuous feed data service from said SP to said STT, said method comprising the steps of:

said SP sending to a connection management computer (CMC), via a communications link connecting said SP to said connection management computer, a request to establish a continuous feed session for presentation of said continuous feed data service to customers;

upon receipt of said request, said CMC allocating a portion of a channel for presentation of said continuous feed session to said STT and said CMC assigning a program number to said continuous feed session;

said CMC sending a session provision command to said SP notifying said SP of said program number and of an input channel of said communications link over which said continuous feed session is to be provided to said CMC;

said SP connecting to said input channel of said communications link and sending a service available message to said CMC;

said STT sending a command to said CMC requesting connection to said continuous feed session existing between said SP and said CMC over said input channel of said communications link;

said CMC sending a message to said SP to determine whether said STT is permitted to connect to said continuous feed session;

if said STT is permitted to connect to said continuous feed session, said CMC allocating time slots during which said STT may communicate with said SP in a reverse communication path including a conductor between said STT and said CMC; and

said CMC connecting said STT to said input channel between said CMC and said SP so that said STT may send messages to said SP in its allocated time slots of said reverse communication path during presentation of said continuous feed session to said STT by said SP.

60. A method as in claim 59, comprising the further step of said STT sending presentation control commands and data along said reverse communication path to said SP along a pass-through communication path without intervention by said CMC.

61. A method as in claim 59, comprising the further step of disconnecting said STT from said continuous feed data service from said SP, said disconnecting step comprising the steps of:

said SP sending a session disconnect command to said CMC;

upon receipt of said session disconnect command, said CMC sending a disconnect command to all STTs connected to said continuous feed session; and

said CMC deallocating said time slots in said reverse communication path upon receipt of acknowledgements from said STTs that said disconnect command has been received.

62. A method of initiating and controlling presentation of a data service from a data services provider (SP) which provides at least one of a video, audio, and information data service to a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT), comprising the steps of:

said STT requesting a data service from said SP by sending a data service request command to said SP from said STT;

said SP providing said requested data service to said STT;

said STT providing presentation control commands and data to said SP, said presentation control commands including a manipulating command for manipulating data provided by said requested data service; and

said SP varying, on a real-time basis, its presentation of said requested data service to said STT in response to said presentation control commands received from said STT.

63. A system for initiating and controlling presentation of a data service from a data services provider (SP) which provides at least one of a video, audio, and information data service to a customer'"'"'s set top terminal (STT), said STT comprising means for sending a data service request command to said SP and for providing presentation control commands and data to said SP during presentation of the requested data service, said presentation control commands including a manipulating command for manipulating data provided by the requested data service, and said SP comprising means for providing said requested data service to said STT and for varying, on a real-time basis, its presentation of said requested data service to said STT in response to said presentation control commands received from said STT.

64. A system as in claim 63, wherein said manipulating command comprises at least one of a fast-forward, rewind, pause, forward scan, reverse scan, play, and stop command.