System and method for merging interactive television data with closed caption data

An interactive television system comprising:

• a first input for receiving a first data stream for a particular television program, the first data system having a plurality of first data units;
• a second input for receiving a second data stream for the particular television program, the second data stream having a plurality of second data units;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to the first input and the second input, the processing unit including logic for:
• creating a gap between two first data units in the first data stream;
• inserting a first portion of the plurality of second data units into the created gap;
• detecting another gap in the first data stream;
• and
• electronically inserting a second portion of the plurality of second data units into the detected gap.

In an interactive television system, a method for merging a first data stream for a particular television program, the first data system having a plurality of first data units, with a second data stream for the particular television program, the second data stream having a plurality of second data units, the first data stream having a higher priority than the second data stream, the method comprising:

• creating a gap between two first data units in the first data stream;
• inserting a first portion of the plurality of second data units into the created gap;
• detecting another gap in the first data stream;
• and
• electronically inserting a second portion of the plurality of second data units into the detected gap.

In an interactive television (ITV) system, a method for merging a closed caption data stream and an ITV data stream, the closed caption data stream including closed caption reveal command data and closed caption payload data, and the ITV data stream including ITV reveal command data and ITV payload data, the method comprising:

• identifying an ITV reveal time slot for the ITV reveal command data, the ITV reveal command data commanding a receiver to display ITV content associated with the ITV payload data;
• determining whether the ITV reveal time slot is available;
• responsive to a determination that the ITV reveal time slot is assigned to the closed caption payload data:
• segmenting at least the closed caption payload data assigned to the ITV reveal time slot;
• and
• reassigning the segmented closed captioning payload data to one or more time slots earlier than the ITV reveal time slot;
• and
• assigning the ITV reveal time slot to the ITV reveal command data.