Abstract: A television user selectively configures one or more control options pertaining to usage monitoring, and a compliance means ensures that the operation of application programs on the television user's programmable television controller is compliant with the selective configuration of the control options. Compliance strategies include voluntary compliance by application programs and/or application providers, locally-enforced compliance by a TV Control application, application program certification, and application provider registration. A data claim authentication and processing means enables the television user to control or limit the exploitation of user data objects provided to agents of interactive television application programs.

Abstract: A television user selectively configures one or more control options, and a compliance means ensures that the operation of application programs on the television user's programmable television controller will be compliant with the selective configuration of the control options. The control options pertain to the operation of the application programs on the programmable television controller. A variety of compliance strategies include voluntary compliance by application programs and/or application providers, locally-enforced compliance by a TV Control application, application program certification, and application provider registration. Further, a data claim authentication and processing means enables the television user to control or limit the exploitation of user data objects provided to agents of interactive television application programs.