AUTOMATED CONTROL OF INTERACTIVE APPLICATION EXECUTION USINGDEFINED TIME PERIODS

摘要

A method and apparatus facilitate control of interactive application executi on through use of defined time periods. A broadcaster (110) transmits a broadca st program, an associated interactive application (170), and at least one definition of a time period from a set including: a first time period, durin g which execution of the application may be offered to a viewer; a second time period, during which execution of the application may be started; and a thir d time period, during which the application may be executed. A viewer tunes to a channel associated with the broadcast program and interactive application. A broadcast receiver (140) offers the viewer the option to execute the interactive application (170), if within the first defined time period. If t he user elects to so execute, the broadcast receiver starts said execution, if within the second defined time period. If the interactive application continues to execute at the end of the third defined time period, the broadcast receiver retires the interactive application.