Method and apparatus for integrated real-time interactive content insertion and monitoring in E-commerce enabled interactive digital TV

A system for selectively inserting interactive content at a live TV studio into a TV broadcasting presentation whereby said interactive content is related to content of said broadcasting presentation, comprising:

• a control unit including a computer and a memory, for referencing at least one file containing interactive content on either a remote or local computer and a list referring to said content;
• a capture device coupled to the control unit and to a live programming content source, for capturing audiovisual programming from a TV broadcasting presentation at the live TV studio;
• a display coupled to the control unit, for presenting at the live TV studio to an operator said list;
• an input device coupled to the control unit, for receiving from the operator a selection of said content, an indication of a time for presentation of the selected content, and a position for presentation of the selected content within said broadcasting audiovisual programming;
• a multiplexer coupled to the control unit and to a communications network, for combining said selected content with said broadcasting audiovisual programming, said selected content being in said position for presentation and available at said time for presentation;
• means enabling said operator at the live TV studio to navigate said list by sorting to rearrange the order of the contents;
• means enabling said operator at the live TV studio to preview an item of the interactive content in the list;
• and
• means combining said selected content with said broadcasting audiovisual programming based on the viewer interaction with the interactive content, said selected content being in said position for presentation and available at said time for presentation.

A computer program for execution in a computer having a memory, to selectively insert interactive content at a alive TV studio into a TV broadcasting presentation whereby said interactive content is related to content of said broadcasting presentation, comprising:

• program code for storing in the memory at least one file containing interactive content and a list referring to said content;
• program code for capturing in the memory audiovisual programming from a TV broadcasting presentation;
• program code for presenting at a live TV studio to an operator said list in a display coupled to the computer;
• program code for receiving from the operator at a alive TV studio a selection of said content, an indication of a time for presentation of the selected content, and a position for presentation of the selected content within said broadcasting audiovisual programming;
• program code for combining in a multiplexer coupled to the computer said selected content with said broadcasting audiovisual programming, said selected content being in said position for presentation and available at said time for presentation;
• program code enabling said operator at the live TV studio to navigate said list by sorting to rearrange the order of the contents;
• program code enabling said operator at the live TV studio to preview an item of the interactive content in the list;
• and
• program code combining said selected content with said broadcasting audiovisual programming based on the viewer interaction with the interactive content, said selected content being in said position for presentation and available at said time for presentation.