Abstract: A system and method are provided for creating and delivering programming enhancements for interactive commerce in a television distribution network. The system includes databases of program schedule information, product information on items available for purchase, and available enhancement layouts. A computer application allows the creation of customized program enhancements, each containing product information relating to a particular program. The system further includes broadcasting apparatus to broadcast program enhancements to viewers on the network at an appropriate time so as to have each enhancement available for display to the viewers during the particular program with which it is associated. To conserve system resources, the program enhancements are assembled, formatted and queued for broadcast only shortly before the associated programs are aired.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for creating programming enhancements for interactive commerce in a television distribution network. The system includes databases containing information on available products, layouts suitable for displaying product information on a television screen, and program schedule information. Computer applications allow a user to select a group of products, select and customize a screen layout, and define a program enhancement associating the products and layout with a particular scheduled program. Each program enhancement created with the system is stored for broadcast to viewers on the network at an appropriate time prior to the scheduled broadcast of the particular program with which it is associated. To conserve system resources, basic screen layouts for the enhancements are stored on viewers' set top boxes, and only information relating to the customized features of the enhancement's appearance, such as color and type style, is broadcast.