Synchronizing services across open cable and packet cable

A method for synchronized utilization of a data transfer with an audio/video stream comprising:

• receiving information specifying a first time value when a data transfer may be combined with an audio/video stream;
• monitoring said audio/video stream for a second time value prior to said first time value by a predetermined amount;
• requesting a data transfer;
• receiving a data transfer;
• and
• combining data from said data transfer with data from said audio stream associated with said first time value to produce a modified audio/video stream.

A method for modifying an audio/video stream employing user information comprising:

• receiving an audio/video stream identifier identifying an audio/video stream that may be modified;
• monitoring said audio/video stream for information corresponding with said identifier;
• requesting a data transfer wherein said request includes supplying user identification information;
• receiving a data transfer containing a time descriptor;
• combining said data transfer and said audio/video stream when time information contained within said audio/video stream is in substantial agreement with said time descriptor.

A method for modifying an audio/video stream employing user information comprising:

• issuing information to a client system identifying an audio/video stream;
• receiving a request for a data transfer from a client system including a user identifier and an audio/video stream identifier;
• selecting a data transfer using said user identifier and said audio stream identifier;
• and
• transmitting said data transfer to said client system.

A system for combining a data transfer with an audio/video stream comprising:

• a video server;
• a data server;
• a client system operable to receive said audio/video stream from said video server and said data transfer from said data server;
• a network management component operable to provide isochronous data transfer from said data server to said client system;
• and
• a processing component in said client system operable to monitor said audio/video stream for time information and to combine said data transfer with said audio/video stream.

A method for modifying an audio/video stream comprising:

• receiving an audio/video stream containing timing information on a first channel of a network;
• receiving a data transfer on a second channel of a network;
• and
• combining said data transfer with said audio/video stream using said timing information.

A system for combining an audio/video stream with a data transfer comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• a communications component for receiving data across a network;
• a media component for receiving an audio/video stream across a network;
• a mixing component operable to combine part of said data transfer with part of said audio/video stream;
• and
• a software program operable to check time information in said audio/video stream and to affect combination of said data transfer with said audio/video stream when said time information corresponds to a predetermined value.

A method for modifying audio associated with an audio/video stream comprising:

• receiving a broadcast audio video stream;
• receiving alternate audio information;
• and
• replacing audio information in said audio/video stream with said alternate audio information.