Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.

Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.

Abstract: Interactive content preservation and customization technology is placed at the broadcast facility to ensure reliable transmission of the interactive content to a local subsystem. An interactive content code detector detects interactive content codes in the video stream at the broadcast facility. The interactive content code detector is placed in the transmission path before the video stream is transmitted to broadcast facility hardware that may strip out, destroy, corrupt or otherwise modify the interactive content and interactive content codes. Once an interactive content code detector detects a code, an interactive broadcast server determines what action to take, and instructs an data insertion unit accordingly. The interactive content codes or interactive content may be placed in a portion of the video that is guaranteed by the broadcast facility to be transmitted, for example, the closed caption region of the vertical blanking interval.

Abstract: An automation server interfaces with broadcast scheduling systems of various types to automatically synchronize the behavior of interactive applications relative to various broadcast programs, such as television shows and commercials, so as to maintain the appropriate interactive application for whatever broadcast program is airing. This allows for television shows which have an associated interactive application, but which are segmented by commercials (which may have their own interactive applications) to have their interactive application displayed while the television show in on, but not during commercials, while maintaining any state information that has been created during execution of the interactive application. The automation server includes multiple channel interfaces, each having a translator and an event manager. The translator translates native control signals from the scheduling system into a fixed set of atomic commands which represent the lifecycle behavior of a broadcast program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate the retirement of interactive applications in a manner associated with an external event and a program state of the interactive application. A broadcaster transmits an interactive application that includes a plurality of retirement instructions associated with external events and internal program states of the interactive application. A broadcast receiver receives an interactive application, stores the included retirement instructions, and executes the interactive application concurrently with the display of an associated television program. The broadcast receiver monitors the broadcast signal for events indicating that the executing interactive application is no longer appropriate for the current television program.

Abstract: A system and method provide a generalized reminder system in an interactive broadcast environment, that enables a viewer to quickly establish reminders for both broadcast events and non-broadcast events, and have such reminders displayed at an appropriate future time. The system includes a broadcast that broadcasts programs, such as television programs and commercial advertisements, and interactive applications associated with various such programs. The interactive applications include reminder interactive applications which have reminder data which describe a future time for displaying a reminder and a description of the event for which the reminder is desired. The broadcast programs and reminder interactive applications are received in broadcast receiver which displays the programs. A viewer viewing a program signals the broadcast receiver to establish a reminder for an event related to the program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus facilitate control of interactive application execution through use of defined time periods. A broadcaster transmits a broadcast program, an associated interactive application, and at least one definition of a time period from a set including: a first time period, during which an option to execute the application may be offered to a viewer; a second time period, during which execution of the application may be started; and a third time period, during which the application may be executed. A viewer tunes to a channel associated with the broadcast program and interactive application. A broadcast receiver offers the viewer the option to execute the interactive application, if within the first defined time period. If the user elects to so execute, the broadcast receiver starts said execution, if within the second defined time period. If the interactive application continues to execute at the end of the third defined time period, the broadcast receiver retires the interactive application.

Abstract: A system and method provide sophisticated analysis of program viewership by executing interactive applications that generate responses describing the viewers' behavior. A broadcast server maintains a database of interactive applications each preferably associated with a program that will be broadcast. The interactive applications preferably include monitoring interactive applications that are configured to selectively monitor viewership, interactive application usage, and reception terminal usage. When the program is broadcast, the monitoring interactive application is inserted into the broadcast feed and delivered to a broadcast receiver such as a television set-top box. The broadcast receiver includes a processor, memory, and other hardware necessary to execute the interactive application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus routes user information including confidential information and other information to a vendor in a secure manner without requiring the user to transmit information in a secure manner. The user provides a user identifier and information including confidential information to a response collector, who relates the user identifier to the user information. The response collector may verify the information to protect against fraud. An information provider provides an application identifier and vendor routing information to a response collector, who relates the vendor routing information to the application identifier. The application identifier corresponding to the vendor is broadcast to the user via an interactive information system application, and the interactive information system sends the application identifier, a user identifier and other response information to a response collector as directed by the user and the interactive information system application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus identifies a tuned frequency or other information about a broadcaster or an interactive information system application using a description of the broadcaster or application, allowing an interactive information system to be easily controlled without requiring an information provider to identify a tuned frequency or other information. An information provider broadcasts broadcaster information to a reception component, and the reception component may identify the desired tuned frequency or other information using this broadcaster information. This allows interactive information system applications to locate a desired frequency or other information without requiring knowledge of information specific to each geographic or other boundary.

Abstract: A system and method allow for the periodic re-configuring of broadcast receivers to control their storage of responses to interactive applications during a polling period. A broadcast server maintains a database of interactive applications each preferably associated with a program that will be broadcast. When the program is broadcast, an interactive application is inserted into the broadcast feed and delivered to a broadcast receiver such as a television set-top box. The broadcast receiver includes a processor, memory, and other hardware necessary to execute the interactive application. When executed, the interactive application generates a response which is transmitted to a local data center at, for example, the cable head-end. Generated responses have specific types. To manage the number and capacity of the system to receive responses, priority values are assigned to responses of different types.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows an information provider to broadcast a graphical interactive information system application to a user even using a low-bandwidth transport such as the VBI. A compact protocol encapsulates graphical information using definitions of graphical objects and resources. A scripting and command language is also highly compact. A reception component receives the compact protocol and displays and operates a complete graphical interactive information system application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows an information provider to broadcast a graphical interactive information system application to a user even using a low-bandwidth transport such as the VBI. A compact protocol encapsulates graphical information using definitions of graphical objects and resources. A scripting and command language is also highly compact. A reception component receives the compact protocol and displays and operates a complete graphical interactive information system application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus routes user information including confidential information and other information to a vendor in a secure manner without requiring the user to transmit information in a secure manner. The user provides a user identifier and information including confidential information to a response collector, who relates the user identifier to the user information. The response collector may verify the information to protect against fraud. An information provider provides an application identifier and vendor routing information to a response collector, who relates the vendor routing information to the application identifier. The application identifier corresponding to the vendor is broadcast to the user via an interactive information system application, and the interactive information system sends the application identifier, a user identifier and other response information to a response collector as directed by the user and the interactive information system application.