Patent ID: 8640184

Claim:
A method for outputting programming for use with an interactive mass medium programming output apparatus comprising the steps of: receiving information to be used in characterizing a subscriber originated at a source external to said interactive mass medium programming output apparatus; selecting information characterizing a subscriber in said interactive mass medium programming output apparatus by processing said information to be used in characterizing a subscriber; storing said information characterizing a subscriber in said interactive mass medium program output apparatus; receiving mass medium programming at said interactive mass medium output apparatus; outputting simultaneously said mass medium programming and said information characterizing a subscriber, said output comprising audio or video content that prompts said subscriber for first input, said interactive mass medium output apparatus having an input device to receive said first input from said subscriber; receiving said first input from said subscriber at said input device in response to simultaneously outputting said mass medium programming and said information characterizing a subscriber that prompts said subscriber, said first input indicating that said subscriber wants first user specific programming to be output in conjunction with said mass medium programming; commencing a process required to enable said interactive mass medium output apparatus to output said first user subscriber specific programming based on said step of receiving first input, said process combining simultaneously said mass medium programming and a portion of local subscriber specific information; completing said process; and outputting said first user specific programming at said interactive mass medium programming output apparatus wherein said first user specific programming is personalized to said subscriber by including content based on said stored information characterizing a subscriber.