Apparatus and method for processing an interactive service

An apparatus for providing an app-based enhancement for a linear service, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a first signaling table and a second signaling table;
• a parser configured to parse the first signaling table and the second signaling table,
• wherein the first signaling table includes a plurality of sub-elements providing metadata about at least one application for the app-based enhancement,
• wherein the second signaling table providing signaling information for initiating actions to be taken by the at least one application, wherein the second signaling table includes a period identifier and a list of event elements, the period identifier identifying a time interval of the linear service, and
• wherein an event element includes first time information setting presentation time for a first event relative to start of the time interval identified by the period identifier,
• wherein the event element further includes an event identifier for the first event and data information providing data to be used by an application for carrying out an action initiated by the first event,
• wherein the second signaling table further includes an identifier which is used to identify the application that the first event is associated with;
• a service providing module configured to provide the app-based enhancement according to information in the first signaling table and the second signaling table;
• and
• a network interface configured to retrieve an event message from an event server, the event message including information for initiating an action for a second event, the event message including an event identifier for the second event and second time information indicating presentation time for the second event,
• wherein the service providing module is further configured to provide the app-based enhancement according to information in the first signaling table and the event message.