System and method for VDSL real time response to video programming

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A system for upstream signaling to allow real-time end user response to an external program service provider in a VDSL-based communication network, the system comprising: a network head end having a data carousel for down loading data on a VDSL distribution system for broadcast to an end user location, said network head end arranged to receive an IP address from the external program service provider and associate the IP address with a specific program channel and time of broadcast; and a transceiver device connected to the network at the end user location and arranged to receive the down loaded data, said head end assigning an impulse pay-per-channel ATM virtual path/channel ID to the transceiver unit after the transceiver device signs on to the network, and said transceiver including an application interface that can be launched by the end user to initiate an upstream response to the external program service provider, wherein the application interface is arranged to send a response to the received IP address using the assigned impulse pay-per-channel ATM virtual path/channel ID when the transceiver is tuned to the associated program during the broadcast time, and the head end is arranged to forward the response to the designated IP address.
2.
The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver device comprises a user set top box.
3.
The system of claim 1 wherein the data carousel is operative to include the IP address as part of an electronic program guide.
4.
The system of claim 1 wherein the application interface is operative to display messages from the external program service provider on a portion of a video screen during the associated program broadcast time if the transceiver is tuned to the program channel.
5.
The system of claim 1 wherein the application interface is operative to send a connect message to the received IP address when the application interface is launched to initiate a network connected two-way communication session between the external program service provider and the end user