Abstract: The present invention relates to a simplified electronic message response, such as an electronic mail (e-mail) response. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sender may send an electronic message, such as an e-mail, that includes a main message and one or more options. The receiver may select any of the options, for example, by pressing a number on a remote control that corresponds to an option. Once an option has been selected, information related to the selected option, such as text explaining the selected option to the user, may be presented. The user can then indicate a desire to transmit the selected option. A reply e-mail is automatically generated and sent to the original sender, such as the advertiser.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fast matching algorithm uses a memory space efficient data structure to accomplish information filtering in a system receiving information, such as a set top box used in conjunction with a television set. The data structure, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include a node with a plurality of levels of expected values of data fields with an associated index to another node to be used when a matching identification of a particular level is not found. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the nodes in this data structure may include a level field which identifies levels which are valid within the node.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for managing the presentation and regulation of E-Commerce, content and service providers access in an interactive television environment comprising interactions between a server, a client, and a service provider. Components are provided for managing and completing a purchase or delivery of an item offered by a service provider. A purchase transaction uses client information comprising partial client information from the client and a list of purchased items. Upon receiving partial information from the client, the server retrieves corresponding additional related information within its database and transmits this retrieved data from the server, along with the list of purchased items to complete the transaction. Business Agents are provided for logging the transaction, creating an electronic receipt, logging patches, logging error events, and viewer logging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting and compiling an interpretative language to implement functions such as those written as a script embedded in a HTML page in an interactive television environment. HTML pages are are received from both broadcast and online. The compiler runs on a server. The compiled scripts run faster and require less processing power to execute. The compiler runs on a server. The scripts are extracted from HTML representing content stored at the server. The compiled script code is then transmitted from the server to a client device, through broadcast or online, for execution during content display at the client device. The compiled scripts run faster, require less processing power to execute, and run on client devices that do not have the interpreter for that language.