Patent ID: 7934230

Claim:
A network node within a packet-switched network, comprising: a program input port coupled to receive a multicast television program; a commercial input port coupled to receive commercial programs; a controller that operates to identify one or more subscribers to said multicast television program and to identify a targeted one of said commercial programs for each of said subscribers; a commercial inserter operating to insert said respective targeted commercial program for each of said subscribers into said multicast television program to produce respective customized programs; and a subscriber output port coupled to transmit said customized programs towards said respective subscribers; wherein said controller is further operable to receive a program splice mark indicator within a multicast layer 2 or layer 3 protocol stack carrying said multicast television program, said program splice mark indicator identifying a program splice mark point between two of said program packets within said program queue, said commercial inserter inserting said respective targeted commercial program for each of said subscribers between said two program packets.