A method and system is provided for transferring data between a host and a video display through a video interface. The method includes the step of providing a horizontal sync line between the host and the video display with time intervals that are reserved for a horizontal sync signal. Another step is signaling to the host that the video display is able to participate in bidirectional data communications using the horizontal sync line. A further step is transferring data between the host and video display on the horizontal sync line during time intervals that are not reserved for the horizontal sync signal.