Digital TV system with synchronized world wide web content

• US 6,886,178 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Liberate Technologies
• Inventors: Chen, David, Mao, Weidong
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/124,572
• Time in Patent Office: 2,463 Days
• Field of Search: 725/52, 725/51, 725/112, 725/113, 725/118, 725/105, 725/119
• US Class Current: 725/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

In a broadcast digital video network, Internet HTML Web page data is formatted to fit within a standard MPEG-2 data packet structure, and multiplexed along with other MPEG-2 digital video signals for transport within a multiple channel digital video system. The headend server broadcasts a rotating carousel comprising an ensemble of Web pages in HTML format containing both broadcast Web pages and simulcast Web pages and a control map permitting the viewer to navigate among the HTML Web pages. The control map containing the locations of the HTML Web pages in the rotating carousel that correspond to broadcast Web pages and the locations of the HTML Web pages that correspond to broadcast Web pages. The control map is updated and rebroadcast for each broadcast video program, thereby synchronizing the simulcast Web pages to the digital video programs.

Claims

1. In a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, a method for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said method comprising generating a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stood HTML Web pages;

formatting said control map and sad plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map;

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display,

storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages;

selecting at said settop decoder, at least one of said received plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display,

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said method further comprising;

transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

2. A network method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

3. A transmitter method for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said transmitter method for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said transmitter method comprising:

storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

generating a control map defining the correspondence between the, packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages; and

formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format,

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said method further comprising;

transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

4. A settop decoder method for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packers being identified by a respective packet identifier, said broadcasting station including storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages, formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format, and transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network, said settop decoder method comprising:

receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages; and

selecting at said settop decoder, at least one of said received plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display,

wherein said broadcasting station includes generating a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages, and formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

said settop decoder method further comprising;

receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display;

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, and said broadcasting station includes transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier, and transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table, said settop method further comprising;

receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

5. In a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, a method for simulcasting World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said simulcasting method comprising:

storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format;

formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map and said at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal, said corresponding one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

6. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said network method further comprising:

transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

7. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

8. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said step of receiving said second table is performed responsive to detecting a change in said first table, to update said second table.

9. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format comprises using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet.

10. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said broadcasting station further includes receiving a plurality of television programming signals, at least one of said plurality of television programming signals containing a local tag, said simulcasting method comprising:

using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet;

detecting said local tag on one of said plurality of television programming signals; and

storing, responsive to said detecting said local tag, said event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format.

11. A transmitter method for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said transmitter method for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said transmitter method comprising:

storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format;

formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format; and

transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network.

12. A transmitter method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said transmitter method further comprising:

transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

13. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said step of storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format comprises using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet.

14. A simulcasting method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said broadcasting station further includes receiving a plurality of television programming signals, at least one of said plurality of television programming signals containing a local tag, said simulcasting method comprising:

using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet;

detecting said local tag on one of said plurality of television programming signals; and

storing, responsive to said detecting said local tag, said event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format.

15. A settop decoder method for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said broadcasting station including storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages, storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format, formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages, formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format, and transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network, said settop decoder method comprising:

receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map and said at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal, said corresponding one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

16. A settop decoder method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, and said broadcasting station includes transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier and transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table, said settop decoder method further comprising:

receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

17. A settop decoder method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step of receiving said second table is performed responsive to detecting a change in said first table, to update said second table.

18. In a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, an apparatus for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said apparatus comprising:

means for storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

means for transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

means for receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages;

means for selecting at said settop decoder, at least one of said received plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display;

means for generating a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

means for receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of Web pages and said control map; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display;

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said apparatus further comprising;

means for transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

means for transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

19. A network apparatus in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

means for receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

20. A transmitter apparatus for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said transmitter apparatus for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said transmitter apparatus comprising:

means for storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

means for transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

means for generating a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages; and

means for formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said apparatus further comprising;

means for transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

means for transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

21. A settop decoder apparatus for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said broadcasting station including storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages, formatting said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format, and transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network, said settop decoder apparatus comprising:

means for receiving said MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages;

means for selecting at said settop decoder, at least one of said received plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display;

wherein said broadcasting station includes generating a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages, and formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

said settop decoder apparatus further comprising;

means for receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder, said MPEG data packets including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display;

wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, and said broadcasting station includes transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier, and transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table, said settop apparatus further comprising;

means for receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

means for receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

22. In a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, an apparatus for simulcasting World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said simulcasting apparatus comprising:

means for storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format;

means for formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format;

means for transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network;

means for receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map and said at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal, said corresponding one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

23. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said network apparatus further comprising:

means for transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

means for transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

24. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

means for receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

25. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 24, wherein said means for receiving said second table is performed responsive to detecting a change in said first table, to update said second table.

26. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein said means for storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format comprises using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet.

27. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein said broadcasting station further includes receiving a plurality of television programming signals, at least one of said plurality of television programming signals containing a local tag, said simulcasting apparatus comprising:

means for using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet;

means for detecting said local tag on one of said plurality of television programming signals; and

means for storing, responsive to said detecting said local tag, said event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format.

28. A transmitter apparatus for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said transmitter apparatus for distributing World Wide Web pages over said one way broadcast communications network, said transmitter apparatus comprising:

means for storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format;

means for formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages;

means for formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format; and

means for transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network.

29. A transmitter apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, said transmitter apparatus further comprising:

means for transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier; and

means for transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table.

30. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said means for storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format comprises using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet.

31. A simulcasting apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein said broadcasting station further includes receiving a plurality of television programming signals, at least one of said plurality of television programming signals containing a local tag, said simulcasting apparatus comprising:

means for using said Internet access server at said broadcasting station to obtain the relationship between said one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal and said corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages over the Internet;

means for detecting said local tag on one of said plurality of television programming signals; and

means for storing, responsive to said detecting said local tag, said event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format.

32. A settop decoder apparatus for use in a one way broadcast communications network including a broadcasting station for transmitting on a broadcast medium, and a settop decoder coupled to said broadcast medium, said broadcasting station including an Internet access server for retrieving World Wide Web pages in HTML format, said broadcast communications network further including a multi-channel digital television signal formatted into a plurality of MPEG data packets, each of said of said plurality of MPEG data packets being identified by a respective packet identifier, said broadcasting station including storing World Wide Web pages in HTML format at said broadcasting station to form a plurality of stored HTML Web pages, storing an event table relating at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal to a corresponding one of said World Wide Web pages in HTML format, formatting said event table into a control map defining the correspondence between the packet identifiers of said MPEG data packets and respective ones of said plurality of stored HTML Web pages, formatting said control map and said plurality of stored HTML Web pages into MPEG data packets while retaining said HTML format, and transmitting said MPEG data packets in said digital television signal over said one way broadcast communications network, said settop decoder apparatus comprising:

means for receiving said plurality of MPEG data packets at said settop decoder including said plurality of HTML Web pages and said control map; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said control map and said at least one channel of said multi-channel digital television signal, said corresponding one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

33. A settop decoder apparatus in accordance with claim 32, wherein said control map further comprises a first table and a second table, and said broadcasting station includes transmitting said first table in an MPEG data packet corresponding to a predetermined packet identifier and transmitting said second table in an MPEG data packet having a packet identifier specified in said first table, said settop decoder apparatus further comprising:

means for receiving said first table in said MPEG data packet corresponding to said predetermined packet identifier;

means for receiving said second table in said MPEG data packet having said packet identifier specified in said first table; and

means for selecting at said settop decoder, responsive to said second table, at least one of said plurality of HTML Web pages in said HTML format for display.

34. A settop decoder apparatus in accordance with claim 33, wherein said means for receiving said second table is performed responsive to detecting a change in said first table, to update said second table.