MXPA98007330A - System and method for inserting interactive program content within a television sign originating in a rem network - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital broadcast station (50) is configured to delay and add interactive programming to a television signal carried by a remote network (10). Before transporting the television signal, the remote network inserts an activator within the vertical extinction range of the signal. The trigger contains command information to control loading and / or playback of a designated interactive program. After the trigger is combined with the television signal, the combined signal is modulated and transmitted from the remote network via an uplink (62) to the satellite. This combined signal is received correspondingly in the digital broadcasting station where it is digitized and directed through a video network for channel assignment or other processing. From the video network, the digitized television signal is provided to a VBI decoder which extracts the trigger. The extracted trigger is provided to an interactive flow handler and a server to control the loading or playback of an interactive program identified by the trigger. The rest of the digitized television signal is provided to a video encoder where it is compressed. Next, an AVI generation unit of the digital broadcast station combines the compressed television signal and the interactive program to form an AVI signal to be transmitted to end users by means of an uplink with the satellite.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSERTING PROGRAM CONTENT INTERACTIVE WITHIN DNA SIGNAL TELEVISION ORIGINATING IN A REMOTE NETWORK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to interactive television systems, and more particularly to the insertion of an interactive program content into a television signal originating in a remote network. 2. Description of the relevant technique The emerging interactive television technology holds a promise to allow television equipment to serve as a two-way information distribution mechanism. The proposed features of interactive television host a variety of advertising, entertainment and educational capabilities in a way that allows the user to request a product or service advertised, compete against contestants in a game program, or request specialized information regarding a broadcast program. Typically interactive functionality is controlled by a decoder "placed on the top" which runs an interactive program written for television broadcasting. Interactive functionality frequently displayed on the television screen may include icons or menus to allow a user to make selections via the television remote control. Several unique problems have arisen for digital interactive television broadcasters, particularly for configurations involving "delays". The term "delay" refers to a configuration in which a video feed originating in a remote network arrives at a digital broadcasting plant. The video feed from the remote network is often in analog format and can be a live broadcast. When the video feed is received at the digital broadcasting plant, it is demodulated or decoded and converted into the native format of the digital broadcasting plant. One such native format is SMPTE-259M, which is a digital studio standard of 270 Mbps. The native video signal is routed through the broadcast plant, possibly recorded and delayed in time, and is subsequently directed to a video encoder where it is compressed and retransmitted. For the vast majority of broadcasts, the content does not reside within the digital broadcast floor for more than several hundred milliseconds.

If a digital broadcaster wants to add interactive functionality to a television signal originating from a remote network, the interactive programming information must be inserted at the appropriate time. However, current practices are such that the digital network operator does not need or have to elaborate information regarding the content reproduced in the delayed channel. Although there is enough information to construct a program guide that indicates the approximate times of the broadcasts of specific programs, there is not enough information to determine exactly when a particular program will start, when commercials will be played and if certain actions can be taken preventive This information remains in the program originator, which is not graphically remote and typically operates as a separate business. To further complicate the problem, the order of playback of interactive content and the ability to request edits "on broadcast day" must be controlled by the signal originator. Although interactive programming information can be provided directly by the signal originator, most remote networks are not equipped to provide interactive programming or have adequate transmission formats and bandwidth to allow interactive content. In addition, it is often desirable that the digital diffuser be able to maintain control over the actual diffusion and the Interactive programming content, which typically is not possible or plastic if the interactive programming information is provided directly by the signal originator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The problems indicated above are solved, in large part, by a system and method for inserting an interactive program content into a television signal according to the present invention. In one embodiment, a digital broadcast station is configured to delay and add interactive programming to a television signal originally carried by a remote network. Before transporting the television signal, the remote network inserts an activator within a vertical extinction range (VBI) of the signal. The trigger contains command information to control loading and / or playback of an interactive portion of the interactive program.

After the trigger is combined with the television signal, the combined signal is modulated and transmitted from the remote network via an uplink with a satellite or other transmission mechanism. This combined signal is received correspondingly in the digital broadcasting station where it is digitized and directed through a video network for a channel assignment and other processing. From the network of video, the digitized television signal is provided to a VBI decoder which extracts the trigger. The extracted trigger is provided to a server which controls the loading or playback of an interactive program and identified by the trigger. The rest of the digitized television signal is provided to a video encoder where it is compressed. An AVI generation unit (interactive video audio) of the digital broadcast station then combines the compressed television signal and the interactive program to form an AVI signal to be broadcast to end users by means of an uplink with a satellite. The AVI signal can be formed by audio, video and interactive packed components multiplexed over the time of the AVI signal. In this way, the interactive programming information can be advantageously provided at the right time with a television signal that is delayed at the digital broadcasting station. The remote network can control the order of reproduction of the interactive programming information and can request broadcast editions, while the digital broadcasting station is allowed to maintain control over the content and the actual broadcasting of interactive programming information. Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates an interactive television system comprising a remote network and a broadcast station. The remote network includes a television signal source to provide a television signal (u another video signal), an activator generator configured to configure an interactive command to control an interactive program associated with the television signal, and an activator insert unit configured to generate a combined signal including the television signal and the command interactor The remote network also includes a transmitter coupled to receive the combined signal and configured to transmit the combined signal by a cable or wireless transmission. The broadcast station includes a receiver configured to receive the combined signal, an activator extraction unit configured to extract the interactive command from the combined signal, and an interactive program source configured to control the interactive program in response to the interactive command. The broadcast station further includes an interactive TV signal generation unit configured to combine the television signal with the interactive program to form an audio-video-interactive output signal. The present invention further contemplates a method for providing an interactive program content with a television signal originating in a remote network. The method comprises generating an interactive command in the remote network to control an interactive program associated with the television signal, combining the television signal with the interactive command to form a combined signal, and transmitting the combined signal from a remote network via a transmission by cable or wireless. The method further comprises receiving the combined signal in a broadcast station, extracting the interactive command from the combined signal and controlling an interactive program source in response to the interactive command extracted from the combined signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a marker architecture and flow server for a system of interactive television according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the exemplary information contained within an activator generated by the remote network. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary format of an AVI signal. Figure 4 is a block diagram of a handler and flow server architecture for an interactive television system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of an interactive television system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although the invention is susceptible to various concentrations and alternative forms, the specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the drawings and the detailed description thereof are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form described, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Returning now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system for inserting an interactive program content into a television signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system of Figure 1 includes a remote network 10 for transmitting a satellite television signal, a broadcast station 50 which receives the television signal and provides interactive programming material thereto to form an AVI (audio-video-interactive) signal. ). Afterwards, the AVI signal is transmitted by the broadcast station 50 to be received by the end users by a subsequent distribution link. The remote network 10 includes illustratively a television signal source 12 and an activator generator 14 coupled to an activator insert unit 16. An output of the trigger insertion unit 16 is coupled to a transmitter collectively formed by a modulator 18 and an uplink 20 with a satellite. The broadcast station 50 includes a receiver collectively formed by a downlink 52 with a satellite and a demodulator 54. An output demodulator 54 is coupled to an activator extraction unit 56, which in turn is coupled to a source 58. of interactive program and a unit 60 of AVI generation. An output of the AVI generation unit 60 is finally shown coupled to an uplink 62 with a satellite. For the embodiment of Figure 1, the AVI generation unit 60 illustratively includes an A-V (audio-video) compression unit 64 and a data entry unit 66 coupled to an AVI transmission unit 68. Generally speaking, the activator insert unit 16 receives a television signal from the television signal source 12 and provides an activator therewith to form a combined television-trigger signal. The activator which includes command information to control loading and / or playback of an interactive program to be associated with the television signal, it is generated by the activator generator 14. The combined signal is then provided to the modulator 18 where it is modulated before a carrier in a manner suitable for transmission via an uplink 20 with a satellite. The transmission from the remote network 10 is received by the broadcast station 50 on the downlink 52 of the satellite and is provided to the demodulator 54. After the demodulation, the combined television-activator signal is provided to the activator extraction unit 56 where the activator is removed. The subsequently extracted trigger is provided to an interactive program source 58 to control the loading or playback of the interactive program. associated with the activator. The rest of the television signal is provided to an A-V (audio-video) compression unit 54 of the AVI generation unit 60 for compression. When an interactive program is transmitted from the interactive program source 58 according to the trigger extracted by the trigger extraction unit 56, the interactive program is provided to the AVI transmission unit 68 through the data entry unit 66. . The compressed audio and video are similarly provided to the AVI transmission unit 68 from the 64 compression unit A-V. The AVI transmission unit 68 then combines the interactive program and the compressed components of the television signal to form an AVI signal to be transmitted to end users via a uplink 62 with a satellite. Following are specific details regarding the system of Figure 1. The television signal source 12 may comprise a live video feed and / or a video tape playback apparatus, among other mechanisms. In one embodiment, the video signal provided from the television signal source 12 complies with the NTSC (National Television Systems Commitee) signal standard. However, it should be understood that the television signal provided from the television signal source 12 may be transported in a variety of alternative formats. As previously stated, the trigger generator 14 is provided to generate an activator that includes information for controlling an interactive program associated with the television signal from a television signal source 12. This activator can take various forms. For example, Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary trigger wherein the information for controlling an interactive program is digitally encoded. The trigger of Figure 2 includes an interactive program ID field 82 which contains a value for identifying a designated program stored by an interactive program source (i.e. the interactive program source 60 of Figure 1), and a field 84. of command code that contains a value to control the interactive program source. In an implementation, the command control values are defined to cause the interactive program to be loaded (pre-wound), playback (rolled up) or stopped. The exemplary trigger of FIG. 2 finally includes an authentication code field 86 that contains a value used as a signature to authenticate the trigger, as will be further explained in the following. Referring again to Figure 1, the activator insert unit 16 configured to combine a television signal from a television signal source 12 with an activator from an activator generator 14. In one implementation, the activator insert unit 16 includes a VBI encoder mechanism (vertical blanking interval) which inserts an activator into the vertical extinction region of the NTSC television signal. This combined signal is then provided to the modulator 18 for transmission in a conventional manner. It is specifically contemplated that in alternative configurations, the activator insert unit 16 may combine the trigger with the television signal using other techniques, such as DTMF (double tone multiple frequency) coding or auxiliary data carriers in the transmission. When the transmission from the remote network 10 is received by the broadcast station 50, it is demodulated by the demodulator 54. At this point, the combined television-trigger signal can be converted from its analog format to its format digital, such as the SMPTE 259M study standard. The combined signal can be further directed through a video network, where it can be processed and / or recorded and moved in time. Subsequently, the combined signal is provided to the trigger extraction unit 56. The extracted trigger and the remaining television signal are then directed separately to an interactive program source 58 and an AVI generation unit 60, respectively. For configurations in which the trigger is inserted within the vertical extinction range of the television signal, the trigger extraction unit 56 is implemented with a VBI decoder. It is noted that based on the manner in which the trigger is inserted, other mechanisms may alternatively be used to implement the trigger extraction unit 56, such as a DTMF decoder or a demodulator. The interactive program source 58 is an interactive program information source used to control, for example, operations of a box placed at the top. It will be appreciated that the box positioned at the top typically responds to the user's remote control and provides an interactive screen display to the user's television. The interactive program source 58 can be formed by a handler and stream server which includes a plurality of interactive programs contained in mass storage, such as as a disk array. The interactive programs contained in mass storage can be installed from flexible disks, from tape storage or through remote transfer, among other mechanisms. When the interactive program source 58 receives an activator, it first authenticates the trigger by determining whether the trigger authentication code is an authorized value. If the trigger passes authentication verification, the interactive program source 58 performs an operation in accordance with the command code and the interactive program ID of the trigger. For example, the interactive program source 58 may first receive a command to load an interactive program specified by the interactive program ID "1011" in response to which interactive program source 58 loads the specified program for mass storage within a local memory (that is, DRAM). Then, the interactive program source 58 receives a command to play the program specified by the interactive program ID "1011" in response to which interactive program source 60 transmits the specified interactive program in a bitstream to the input unit 66 of data. The AVI generation unit 60 is a mechanism configured to combine a television signal from the trigger extraction unit 56 with an interactive program from an interactive program source 58 to thereby generate an AVI signal for subsequent transmission. The compression unit A-v as illustrated within the specific embodiment of Figure 1, is configured to compress the television signal using a television algorithm such as MPEG2. The A-V compression unit 64 is further configured to pack the compressed audio and video components in the television signal into fixed bit length packets, and to provide a header for each packet, for identification. This will be explained in further detail in the following. The data entry unit 66 provides an interface for interactive program information carried from the interactive program source 58 to an AVI transmission unit 66. The data entry unit 66 can temporarily store the interactive program information in memory until the AVI transmission unit 68 can receive the information. Similar to the output of the A-V compression unit 64, the interactive program information provided from the data entry unit 66 is packaged in fixed bit length packets, with a header associated with each, for identification. It is noted that the interactive program information may alternatively be packaged by the interactive program source 58. The AVI transmission unit 68 is configured to combine the respective outputs of the compression unit 64 A-V and the data entry unit 66 to form an AVI signal at its output. In one embodiment, the AVI transmission unit is implemented using a multiplexer which multiplexes the time division of the respective interactive audio and video program packages. The resulting multiplexed time division signal is then modulated in a carrier for transmission via an uplink 62 with a satellite. Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary format of an AVI signal generated by the AVI transmission unit 68. The signal format of Figure 3 includes the time division multiplexed packets of the audio, video and interactive program information. Each audio pack 300 includes a header field 302 (denoted by "H") and a data field 306. Similarly, each video pack 310 includes a header field 312 and a data field 314. Finally, each interactive program package 320 includes a header field 322 and a code / data field 324. It will be appreciated that in the illustrated AVI signal, many more video packets 310 are transmitted as time goes on, compared to the number of audio packets 300 and the number of interactive program packets 320. This is to accommodate the relatively large video bandwidth requirements. The system supervisor can dynamically control the bandwidth allocations provided to the video, audio and interactive program packages, respectively, based on the requirements particularities of the system at a given time. It is noted that the header of each packet is used by a box placed on the top, receiving, to reassemble the television signal as well as the interactive program information according to an electronic program guide available locally on the box placed on top. Additional details regarding an exemplary embodiment of an AVI generation unit 60 can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,448,568 entitled "System For Transmitting An Interactive TV Signal" by Delpuch et al. This patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Turning next to Figure 4, a block diagram of a handler and flow server architecture for an interactive television system according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. The circuit portions corresponding to those of Figure 1 are numbered identically for simplicity and clarity. The system of Figure 4 includes a remote network 400 for transporting a television signal via an uplink with a satellite to a broadcast station 450 in a manner similar to that of the system of Figure 1. Figure 4 illustrates an apparatus 402 of video tape playback coupled to a 404 VBI encoder. The VBI encoder 404 encodes activation information generated by the activator generator 14 within of the vertical extinction range of a television signal from a video tape playback apparatus 402 or from an alternative television signal source. The triggers are generated by the activator activator 14 according to an electronic playlist 406 indicating the programs to be transmitted. A clock 408 is additionally coupled to the trigger generator 14 to provide a time reference. It is noted that the electronic playlist 406 can be further coupled to a specific television signal provided to the VBI encoder 404 and that the playlist 406 can be implemented using a computer system. Finally, it is noted that the video tape playback apparatus 402 can provide an output with trigger information that is already inserted within the vertical extinction range of the television signal. This output can derive the VBI encoder 404 and can be provided directly to the modulator 18. In addition, similarly to the embodiment in Figure 1, the trigger information can be provided with the television signal using techniques such as DTMF coding or carrier. of data in the transmission. Such alternative activator insertion techniques may be used in the event that an adequate VBI bandwidth is not available. After the combined television-trigger signal is received and demodulated by station 450 of In this case, the analogue television signal is converted to a digital format by means of an analog-to-digital 452 converter. For the modality of Figure 4, the SMPTE 259M digital television signal standard is used. If the activator information 5 is encoded within the vertical extinction range of the television signal, the digitized signal is then directed directly to the video network 454. The broadcast station 450 includes a data conversion unit 456 to VBI which can be used when provides trigger information from the remote network 400 using an alternative coding scheme, such as DTMF coding or data carrier in the transmission. The data conversion unit 456 to VBI is configured to convert to the activator information received by the station 450 to digitalized information which can be inserted in the vertical extinction range of the digitized television signal by the VBI digital encoder 458. In this way, the television signals provided to the video network 454 are encoded with trigger information within of the vertical extinction intervals. Incorporating activator information directly into the digitized television signal itself avoids the need to know the delays associated with the television signal as it propagates through the video network 454 (i.e. comparison with a situation in which the information of activator is sent via a different path to the trigger extraction mechanism). The video network 454 is configured to process television signals that enter and can reproduce and / or shift these signals over time. The video network 454 is further used to assign television signals that are designated to specific broadcast channels from the digital broadcast station 450. It is noted that the output illustrated from the video network 454 to the VBI decoder 462 corresponds to a designated channel of the broadcast station 450, and that additional channels configured in a similar manner can be additionally provided. The video network 454 is controlled by a broadcast controller 460. Similar to the embodiment of Figure 1, after passing through the video network 454, a digitized television signal is provided to a 462 VBI decoder, which extracts the VBI trigger information and a digitized television signal is provided. SMPTE 259M (without trigger information) to a 60 generation AVI unit. The extracted trigger information is provided to a VBI-to-BC? Command unit 464, which converts the digitized VBI command into a native command format used by the broadcast controller 460. The native command corresponding to the trigger is then provided to the flow server 466 or the flow handler 464 to control the loading or playback of a program Interactive designated by the activator. The AVI generation unit 60 that combines the interactive programming information with the audio and video components of the television signal to form an AVI signal for transmission via an uplink 62 with a satellite. Figure 4 illustrates a data network 470 and a gate 472 through which interactive application programs can be loaded within the flow handler 468. Gate 472 can be coupled to remote locations via modem or internet. A handling station 474 is further coupled to the data network 472 that allows local control of the transfer of interactive application programs within the flow handler 468. Finally, Figure 4 illustrates a second optional flow server 480 which is also configured to receive interactive application programs from the flow handler 468. The application programs are then provided to the transmitter 482 through a data entry unit 484. The interactive program channel formed by the stream server 480, the data input unit 484 and the transmitter 482 is advantageously provided to allow interactive program transmissions independent of an associated television signal. The output of the transmitter 482 can be converted by means of a separate transponder of a satellite that transmits the AVI signal from an uplink 62 with a satellite.

It is noted that the architecture of Figure 4 further allows the broadcast controller 460 to control the generation of AVI signals for television programs that are provided locally to the video network 454. It is further noted that the broadcast controller 460 can receive alarms and errors from various system resources such as the flow handler 4.68 and the flow server 466. The systems of Figures 1 and 4 advantageously allow interactive programming information to be inserted at the appropriate time within a television signal that is delayed at a digital broadcast station. The remote network can control the reproduction order of the interactive programming information and can request editions on the broadcast day, while the digital broadcasting station is allowed to maintain control over the content and the actual broadcast of the interactive programming information. Returning finally to Figure 5, a block diagram of an interactive television system using the remote network 400 and the broadcast station 450 of Figure 4 is shown. Figure 5 illustrates the reception of an AVI signal from a station 450. of dissemination by an end user via a downlink 500 with a satellite. The AVI signal is decoded by a box 502 placed at the top interactive part which provides an output to a television set 504. The interactive decode 502 executes an application program Interactive transported within a selected AVI signal to allow interactivity by a user under the control of a remote control 506. A return channel 508 uses a telephone line and associated modems (not shown) interconnects the interactive decoder 502 to a server 510 of transaction, which monitors certain selections by the user and responds accordingly, as desired. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those familiar with the technique once the above description is fully appreciated. For example, it is understood that the information comprises numerous additional television programs can be multiplexed in time within an AVI signal generated by the AVI generation unit 60. In addition, a variety of alternative implementations for the AVI generation unit 60 are contemplated. It is also understood that the aforementioned combined signal can be transported from the remote network using a variety of alternative wireless or cable transmission mechanisms, such as internet, cable or telephone line. Furthermore, it is noted that any type of video source can be used in place of the television signal source 12. It is intended that the following claims be construed to encompass all such variations and modifications.

Claims (41)

1. An interactive television system, characterized in that it comprises: a remote network, which includes: a television signal source for providing a television signal; an activator generator configured to generate an interactive command to control an interactive program associated with the television signal, - an activator insert unit coupled to the television signal source to the activator generator, wherein the activator insert unit it is configured to generate a combined signal including the television signal and the interactive command, - and a transmitter coupled to receive the combined signal and configured to carry the combined signal; and a broadcast station, including: a receiver configured to receive the combined signal; an activator extraction unit coupled to the receiver and configured to extract the interactive command from the combined signal, - an interactive program source coupled to receive the interactive command from the data extraction unit; activator, wherein the interactive program source is configured to control the interactive program in response to the interactive command; and an interactive TV signal generation unit coupled to the trigger extraction unit and the interactive program source, wherein the interactive TV signal generation unit is configured to combine the television signal with the interactive program to form a Interactive audio-video output signal.

2. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the activator insertion unit is configured to insert the interactive command within a vertical extinction range of the television signal.

3. The interactive television system, according to claim 2, characterized in that the trigger extraction unit is configured to extract the interactive command from the vertical extinction range of the television signal.

4. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmitter includes a modulator coupled to receive the signal combined and configured to modulate the combined signal on a carrier.

5. The interactive television system, according to claim 4, characterized in that the receiver includes a demodulator coupled to the trigger extraction unit and configured to demodulate the carrier to obtain the combined signal.

6. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive program source is a flow handler configured to store the interactive program.

7. The interactive television system, according to claim 6, characterized in that the flow handler is configured to store a plurality of additional interactive programs.

8. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive command includes a loaded command code to cause the interactive program source to load the interactive program.

9. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive command includes a playback command code to cause the interactive program source to provide an interactive program to the interactive TV signal generation unit.

10. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive command includes an interactive program ID to identify the interactive program.

11. The interactive television signal, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive command includes an authentication code, and in which the interactive program source is configured to verify that the authentication code is an authorized value before responding to the interactive command

12. The interactive television seventh, according to claim 1, characterized in that the broadcast station further includes an analog-to-digital converter coupled between the receiver and the trigger extraction unit, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the combined signal from an analog format to a digital format.

13. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the broadcasting station further includes a video network coupled to receive the combined signal in a digital format from an analog to digital converter, and configured to direct the combined signal to the activator extraction unit.

14. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the interactive TV signal generation unit is configured to multiplex over time the audio and video components of the television signal with interactive program components to form the interactive audio-video output signal.

15. The interactive television system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an end user site that includes an interactive decoder coupled to receive the interactive audio and video output signal and configured to execute the interactive program.

16. The interactive television system, according to claim 15, characterized in that the end user site also includes a television set coupled to the interactive decoder.

17. A remote network for an interactive television system, characterized in that it comprises: an activator generator configured to generate an interactive command to control an interactive program associated with a video signal; an activator insertion unit coupled to the trigger generator, wherein the trigger insertion unit is configured to generate a combined signal including a video signal and the interactive command; and a transmitter coupled to receive the combined signal and configured to carry the combined signal.

18. The remote network for an interactive television system, according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises a television signal source coupled to the activator insertion unit and configured to provide the video signal.

19. The remote network for an interactive television system, according to claim 17, characterized in that the activator insertion unit is configured to insert the interactive command within a vertical extinction range of the video signal.

20. The remote network for an interactive television system, according to claim 17, characterized in that the transmitter includes a modulator coupled to receive the combined signal and configured to modulate the combined signal on a carrier.

21. The remote network for an interactive television system, according to claim 17, characterized in that the interactive command includes a loaded command code to cause the interactive program source to load the interactive program.

22. The remote network for an interactive television television, according to claim 17, characterized in that the interactive command includes a playback command code to cause the interactive program source to provide the interactive program to the TV signal generation unit. Interactive

23. The remote network for an interactive television system, according to claim 17, characterized in that the interactive command includes an interactive program ID to identify the interactive program.

24. A broadcast station for an interactive television system, characterized in that it comprises: a receiver configured to receive a combined signal including a video signal and an interactive command; an activator extraction unit coupled to the receiver and configured to extract the interactive command from the combined signal; and an interactive program source coupled to receive the interactive command from the activator extraction unit, wherein the interactive program source is configured to control the interactive program in response to the interactive command.

25. The broadcast station for an interactive television station, according to claim 24, characterized in that the video signal is a television signal.

26. The diffusion station for an interactive television system, according to claim 25, characterized in that it also comprises a Interactive TV signal generation unit coupled to the trigger extraction unit and the interactive program source, wherein the interactive TV signal generation unit is configured to combine the television signal with the interactive program to form a signal of interactive TV.

27. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, characterized in that the trigger extraction unit is configured to extract the interactive command from the vertical extinction range of the video signal.

28. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, characterized in that the receiver includes a demodulator coupled to the trigger extraction unit and configured to demodulate a carrier to obtain the combined signal.

29. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, characterized in that the interactive program source is a flow handler configured to store the interactive program.

30. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 29, characterized in that the flow handler is configured to store a plurality of additional interactive programs.

31. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, characterized in that the interactive command includes a loaded command code to cause the interactive program source to load the interactive program.

32. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 26, characterized in that the interactive command includes a playback command code to cause the interactive program source to provide the interactive program to the signal generation unit of Interactive TV

33. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, characterized in that the interactive command includes an interactive program ID to identify the interactive program.

34. The broadcast station for an interactive television signal, according to claim 24, characterized in that the interactive command includes an authentication code, and in which the interactive program source is configured to verify that the authentication code is a value authorized before responding to the interactive command.

35. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 24, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled between the receiver and the trigger extraction unit, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the combined signal from an analog format to a digital format.

36. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, according to claim 35, characterized in that it further comprises a video network coupled to receive the combined signal in a digital format from the analog to digital converter, and configured to direct the combined signal to the activator extraction unit.

37. The broadcast station for an interactive television system, in accordance with the claim 26, characterized in that the interactive TV signal generation unit is configured for time-multiplexed audio and video components of the television signals with components of the interactive program to form the interactive audio and video output signal.

38. A method for providing an interactive program content with a video signal originating in a remote network, the method is characterized in that it comprises: generating an interactive command in the remote network to control the interactive program associated with the video signal, - combining the video signal with the interactive command to form a combined signal, - transmitting the combined signal from the remote network, - receiving the combined signal at a broadcast station; extract the interactive command from the combined signal; and controlling an interactive program source in response to the interactive command extracted from the combined signal.

39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that it further comprises generating an interactive audio and video output signal by combining the interactive program with the video signal.

40. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that the control of the interactive program source includes transmitting the interactive program from the interactive program source.

41. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that the combination of the video signal with the interactive command includes inserting the interactive command into a region of vertical extinction of the video signal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A digital broadcast station (50) is configured to delay and add interactive programming to a television signal carried by a remote network (10). Before transporting the television signal, the remote network inserts an activator within the vertical extinction range of the signal. The activator contains command information to control loading and / or playback of an interactive program that has been assigned. After the trigger is combined with the television signal, the combined signal is modulated and transmitted from the remote network via an uplink (62) to the satellite. This combined signal is correspondingly received at the digital broadcasting station where it is digitized and directed through a video network for channel assignment or other processing. From the video network, the digitized television signal is provided to a VBI decoder which extracts the trigger. The extracted trigger is provided to an interactive flow handler and a server to control the loading or playback of an interactive program identified by the trigger. The rest of the digitized television signal is provided to a video encoder where it is compressed. Then, an AVI generation unit of the digital broadcast station combines the compressed television signal and the interactive program to form an AVI signal to be transmitted to final users by means of an uplink with the satellite.