Abstract: A system and method for enabling a consumer, in a television or audio broadcast environment, to access specific enhanced services, for example, interactive advertisements embedded in television programs, based on a contract between a product vendor and a video receiver manufacturer. The video receiver manufacturer is the TV or set-top box manufacturer, licensee or affiliated party. Purchasing transactions, including billing, are automatically managed by a data aggregator.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques to allow person-to-person scheduling of automatic program recording for personalized television. Generally, a first person (called a “scheduler” herein) schedules a program to be recorded by a personalized television recorder controlled by a second person (called a “recipient” herein). It is determined if the scheduler is authorized to scheduler a recording on behalf of the recipient. If so, the program is recorded unless there is a conflict with another program or if other conditions are met.

Abstract: For use in an audio playback device capable of recording and playing audio selections, there is disclosed a system and method for recording and playing audio selections in response to user instructions. The system comprises an audio selection controller that is capable of receiving user instructions to record audio selections, identifying audio selections, and recording audio selections on a storage device. The system determines how many times an audio selection is authorized to be played. An audio selection that is not authorized to be played is deleted from the storage device or disabled from playing until an authorization to play the audio selection is received. The system is capable of responding to user instructions to increase or decrease the number of times a particular audio selection is to be played.