Viewer customization of displayed programming based on transmitted URLs

A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the modifying step includes the steps of:
• processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier;
• establishing a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier;
• retrieving information from the information source;
• and
• utilizing the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.

A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the program characteristic selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the processor is further operative:
• (i) to process the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection to generate an additional network information identifier;
• (ii) to establish a connection over a network with an information source identified by the additional network information identifier;
• (iii) to retrieve information from the information source;
• and (iv) to utilize the retrieved information to modify the manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the viewer selection is made in response to a selection display generated at least in part by the processor using an additional network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• wherein the selection display provided to the given viewer includes a listing of available selections presented along with statistical information regarding previous selections made by other viewers.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• means for receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• means for modifying a manner in which the program is displayed to a given viewer using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• means for storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer;
• and
• means for processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

A method for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of:

• storing a program characteristic selection made by a viewer;
• and
• processing the program characteristic selection and a network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, to obtain additional information which is used to modify a manner in which the program is displayed to the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

A method of providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• changing the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

An apparatus for providing a viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• a memory for storing a program characteristic selection made by a given viewer;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operative to receive at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal, and to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast, using information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer;
• wherein the information obtained by processing the network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer comprises information retrieved utilizing another network information identifier different than the processed network information identifier.

An apparatus for providing viewer-customized display of a program transmitted in the form of a television signal, comprising:

• a tuner for receiving the television signal and extracting at least one network information identifier transmitted with the television signal;
• and
• a network interface for retrieving information designated by the extracted network information identifier and a program characteristic selection made by the viewer, wherein the retrieved information is used to change the content of the program, as perceived by a viewer, from that which is broadcast;
• wherein the retrieved information designated by the extracted network information identifier and the program characteristic selection made by the viewer is retrieved at least in part based on another network information identifier different than the extracted network information identifier.