Importance

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Abstract

An interactive television system includes 'connected' receiver units capable of establishing bi-directional connections to remote information stores, such as Web servers, and 'disconnected' receiver units unequipped to make such connections. The system supports the use of broadcast triggers that include connectivity values indicating whether an information resource identified by a trigger refers to 'connected content' or 'disconnected content.' The term 'connected content' refers to information resources that require bi-directional connections to remote information stores; the term 'disconnected content' refers to information resources, such as a locally stored program guide, that do not require such bi-directional connections. Disconnected receiver units identify and reject connected-content triggers by examining connectivity values broadcast as part of triggers. Thus, content providers can broadcast connected-content triggers to connected and disconnected receiver units without interrupting disconnected receiver units with links to inaccessible content. Furthermore, the ability to distinguish between connected and disconnected content allows vendors who sell or lease receiver units to offer a lower level of service to those customers who do not wish to pay for the ability to access connected content.

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First Claim