Multicast data services and broadcast signal markup stream for interactive broadcast systems

摘要

A system and method for producing and receiving interactive broadcasting having a broadcast signal with a hypermedia channel and a logical multicast data channel. The logical multicast data channel has a broadcast signal markup stream (BSMS). The system users have a receiver with an interactivity module and a communication module. The BSMS allows user selectable objects to be displayed to users of the system. BSMS objects can be generated by combining speech recognition, language (and optionally video) processing, and keyword searches. By selecting objects various information relating to those objects may be displayed to users. A portion of the logical multicast channel may be employed to provide interactivity between users. A variation eliminates the BSMS either by employing a markup stream server to provide access links or by generating link content directly in the receiver by the same process.