Patent ID: 8095956

Claim:
A method for providing personalized interactive programming over a data path, the data path extending between a service provider and a set top box, the service provider being connected to a data network and having an address, the method comprising: establishing a communication path between a broadband digital terminal and the set top box, the broadband digital terminal being connected to the data network and the service provider broadcasting video through the broadband digital terminal to the set top box; sending a private data packet in addition to the broadcast video from the service provider, over the network and through the broadband digital terminal to the set top box, the packet containing application interface information for the service provider and containing the service provider address; and establishing an impulse pay-per-view communication path from the set top box through the broadband digital terminal and over the network to the service provider based upon the address to allow interactive programming using the application interface information between the service provider and the set top box to personalize the broadcast programming.