Content distribution system for generating content streams to suit different users and facilitating E-commerce transactions using broadcast content metadata

A method of generating a data streams with dynamically selected content for users comprising the steps of:

• generating a first content stream packetized into logical content blocks of different types comprising content blocks, reference content blocks and floating reference content blocks, said content blocks comprising at least one of metadata and data, said reference content blocks comprising a reference to another content block, and said floating reference content block being initially empty and later resolved to a content block or reference content block;
• transmitting said first content stream and metadata, said metadata comprising data specifying at least one of duration of a content block, number of bytes in a content block, title of content, type of block, security options, security options relating to at least one of encryption, decryption and integrity of the content, a description of the content, format of the at least one of content in a content block selected from the group consisting of audio, video, text, graphics, and data, a description of associated products, a description of the content owner, a description of user rights, unique block identifiers, and a description of how content can be used, and said metadata being transmitted via at least one of in-band transmission by embedding in said first content stream and out-of-band transmission;
• using said metadata to select content for transmission to the user;
• and
• generating a second content stream packetized into logical content blocks of said different types in which at least one of said floating reference blocks is resolved into at least one of a content block comprising the selected content and a reference content block comprising a reference to at least one content block comprising the selected content.