Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to enable a user watching and/or listening to a program to retrieve supplemental information or supplemental entertainment pertaining to an item just seen or words just heard. The apparatus includes a recognition system which recognizes the user's request and causes its satisfaction to be provided. A dynamically changing dictionary is created from items or keywords extracted from the most recently received program portion. The items or keywords may be contained in closed caption text in a TV signal. Particular items or keywords may be assigned a high priority so that they are maintained in the dictionary for a long duration. The user's request is matched against this continually changing dictionary. Upon recognition of the request, a search is initiated to access, import and deliver to the user the information required to satisfy the request.

Abstract: Allows a video broadcast viewer to pause at anytime while viewing a program, and upon returning to be able to view the intervening segment. The video received during the pause period is stored and available for recall upon user command. The storage medium is circular in so much that the memory, upon becoming filled to capacity continues to write incoming information data over the previously stored data. The storage circuits employs a sequential access storage device and/or a direct access storage device. The storage circuit has a high speed memory input buffer and a high speed memory output buffer to account for the relatively long READ and WRITE access times of the storage device employed. At the end of the pause period, the user can view the stored video. The user has a choice between catching up to the regular broadcast or watching the remaining program video in a delay mode.