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.
摘要:
Techniques for searching a program guide database. In accordance with a method, one or more search criteria (e.g., keywords) are received and a request for a search is then sent, along with the search criteria, to a head end of an information distribution system. In response, one or more search results are received from the head end. In this server-centric system, the program guide database is searched at the head end. The search results can be displayed on one search result IPG page (or more, if necessary) or displayed one at a time on the respective IPG page that includes the search result. Upon receiving an indication that a particular search result has been selected, one or more streams associated with the selected search result can be retrieved and decoded to recover the selected program, which can then be displayed.
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.