Patent ID: 8161412

Claim:
A system for providing interactive content, the system comprising: an input to receive a hot key signal, the hot key signal indicating an availability and a location of alternate content; and a processor to: send primary content to a display device; initiate sending an advertisement that temporarily interrupts at least a portion of the primary content to the display device, wherein the advertisement includes a hot key indicator responsive to the hot key signal, wherein the hot key indicator obscures at least a portion of the primary content, wherein the hot key signal comprises an Internet Protocol data packet, the Internet Protocol data packet having a header portion and a body portion, the body portion having a data field indicating the location of the alternate content, initiate an interactive session to enable access to the alternate content responsive to receiving an indication that the hot key signal is accepted, wherein the alternate content is related to the primary content, wherein the interactive session replaces the advertisement that is displayed at the display device, and wherein the interactive session enables a user to initiate an instant messaging session; when the interactive session is completed before the advertisement has finished, automatically resume sending the primary content to the display device after the advertisement has finished; and when the interactive session is not completed before the advertisement has finished, automatically record the primary content until the advertisement has finished and send the recorded primary content to the display device after the advertisement has finished.