METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING THE BROADCAST CONTENT OF INTERACTIVE INTERNET-BASED PROGRAMS

摘要

A method and system for synchronizing broadcast program content and corresponding program commands of an Internet-based broadcast. The method (and system) generates a plurality of time-indicative index values during a broadcast of a program, associates one of the plurality of index values with respective commands (17, 18) in a command stream launched during broadcast of the program, transmits the commands (17, 18) and associated index values to one or more clients, and associates one of the plurality index values to respective video frames (13, 14) in a video stream of the program to indicate the relative time within the program at which the video frame (13, 14) occurs. The method (and system) uses the index values in the video stream to determine the timing and sequence of execution of commands (17, 18) in the command stream at the one or more client.