摘要:
A method and apparatus for compressing and transmitting both video and graphics portions of an interactive program guide (IPG). For an IPG that comprises a graphics portion and at least one video portion, the inventive system separately encodes the video portion and the graphics portion. The video portion is slice-base encoded using a predictive encoder (408), e.g., an MPEG encoder, that produces a bitstream comprising intra-coded picture slices and predictive-coded picture slices. The graphics portion is separately slice-base encoded using a guide encoder (416) to produce encoded slices of the graphics image. The encoded slices of the graphics portion can be stored in a database (418) and recalled as needed for transmission. To transmit an IPG, a transport stream is created containing the intra-coded and predicted picture streams as well as the encoded slices that comprise a graphics image that is to be included in the IPG. The receiver reassembles the components of the IPG into a comprehensive IPG.
摘要:
A prescription management system receives prescription information and manages containers filled with the prescription. The prescription is stored in the container and the container is attached to a tracking device storing prescription information. The tracking device is managed by the prescription management system and a tracking device, located on the container, that stores prescription information. Prior to dispensing the prescription to the customer, the prescription information stored on the container is verified with the customer by the prescription management system to ensure the correct container was retrieved.
摘要:
Messaging protocols for use between components of an interactive program guide (IPG) delivery system. The protocol provides a way to more efficiently utilize the finite bandwidth available for distribution of IPG video sequences. One embodiment comprises messaging protocols for communication between a session manager (702), a transport stream generator (704), and a set top terminal (706). The protocol for communication from the Transport stream generator (704) to the set top terminal (706) specifies content for a demand-cast index table that may be transmitted within a private section of a MPEG transport stream. This includes a list of available demand-cast streams. The protocol for communication from the set top terminal (706) to the session manager (702) includes acquisition, release, and request messages. The protocol for communication from the session manager (702) to the transport stream generator (704) includes stream release, stream request, and reset messages, and the protocol for communication from the transport stream generator (704) to the session manager (702) includes acknowledgements for those messages.
摘要:
A head-end centric system and apparatus for encoding and delivery of realtime and non-realtime content including: a non-realtime content source for providing guide content; a guide encoder (416) for encoding the non-realtime content into encoded non-realtime content; a realtime content source for providing realtime video and audio content; a realtime encoder unit (408) for encoding the realtime video and audio content into encoded realtime video and audio; a remultiplexor for repacketizing the encoded non-realtime content and the encoded realtime video and audio into transport packets; and a re-timestamp unit coupled to the remultiplexer for providing timestamps to be applied to the transport packets in order to synchronize the realtime and non-realtime content therein.