Abstract: A broadcast system may have an out of band return path and the out of band return path may be used for communications with digital services provided by the broadcast system. For example, the broadcast system may provide a file transfer digital service to a user of the broadcast system and the out of band return path may be used to communicate acknowledgments back to the broadcast system during a file transfer process. In one implementation, the broadcast system may be an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television broadcast system. A method for using the out of band return path to interact with the digital service is disclosed.

Abstract: A heartbeat system and signaling protocol for a digital broadcast system that provides a unicast return path signaling protocol. In one embodiment, the digital broadcast system may be an ATSC 3.0 compliant broadcast system.

Abstract: A broadcast system may have an out of band return path and the out of band return path may be used for communications with digital services provided by the broadcast system. For example, the broadcast system may provide a file transfer digital service to a user of the broadcast system and the out of band return path may be used to communicate acknowledgments back to the broadcast system during a file transfer process. In one implementation, the broadcast system may be an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television broadcast system. A method for using the out of band return path to interact with the digital service is disclosed.