Providing content interruptions

Abstract

Content which users may wish to receive may be distributed with interrupting content such that the use of the content on the user's receiver may be interrupted and replaced with the interrupting content. The content which the user wishes to receive may be software, audio, video, graphics or other material and the interrupting content in one embodiment of the prevent invention may be advertisements. In this way, the user's receiver may be utilized to determine when it is appropriate to interrupt the interruptible content with the interrupting content. This may provide a convenient mechanism for reduced price or free distribution of a wide variety of media currently provided only in physical form or only for free without any compensation to the content provider.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 allowing the use of a first content on a content receiver;    automatically interrupting the use of the first content; and    causing the receiver to temporarily replace the first content with second content.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including receiving said first and second content over a broadband distribution system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including receiving television programming.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein temporarily replacing the first content with the second content includes periodically replacing the first content with the second content.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  including replacing said first content with advertising content.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  including receiving digital content and demodulating said content.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  including parsing content and control information.  
     
     
         8 . The method  claim 7  wherein parsing content from control information includes parsing from said content, instructions for determining when said content may be interrupted.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  including receiving instructions from a back channel for controlling the interruption of said content.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  including receiving encrypted content and controlling the decryption of said content to prevent theft of said content.  
     
     
         11 . An article comprising a medium for storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to: 
 allow the use of a first content on the system;    automatically interrupt the use of the first content; and    cause the system to temporarily replace the first content with second content.    
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based to receive said first and second content over a broadband distribution system.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to receive television programming.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to periodically replace the first content with the second content.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to receive digital content and to demodulate said content.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to parse content from control information.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to parse from said content, instructions for determining when said first content may be interrupted.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 16  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to receive instructions from a back channel for controlling the interruption of said content.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 11  further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to receive encrypted content and control the decryption of said content to prevent theft of said content.  
     
     
         20 - 30 . (Canceled)