Program guide in a digital video system

• US 5,867,207 A
• Filed: 02/25/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael Wayne, Horton, Raymond Scott, Chaney, John William, Deiss, Michael Scott, Beyers, Billy Wesley Jr., Hailey, James Edwin, Bridgewater, Kevin Elliott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/806,574
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/906, 348/12, 348/13, 348/469, 348/845.2, 348/569, 348/426, 348/432, 348/390, 455/3.2, 370/339, 370/485, 370/486, 345/327
• US Class Current: 725/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 : involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 : Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

A digital video system receives a digital bitstream representing video and audio information and containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format and includes data units related to the selection of individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program. The system includes a first processor responsive to the bitstream for capturing program guide information and a second processor responsive to the bitstream for capturing selected program data. The program guide data includes a base data unit for selecting a first program and a second data unit of predetermined offset to the base data unit for selecting a second program. The second processor captures program data by capturing data with identifiers matching an identifier determined from the data units.

Claims

1. In a system for receiving a digital bitstream representing video information containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format including packet identifiers that identify individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program, apparatus comprising:

a processor responsive to said bitstream for capturing program guide information including;

a predetermined base packet identifier for identifying a first program;

a second packet identifier having a value of predetermined offset to said base packet identifier value for identifying a second program; and

a processor for capturing selected program data in response to said bitstream by capturing data with packet identifiers matching a packet identifier determined from identifiers including said base packet identifier and said second packet identifier.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said base packet identifier value and said second packet identifier are offset by an integral multiple of respective associated program channel numbers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said base packet identifier and said second packet identifier comprise channel map packets.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

individual packetized datastreams associated with said first program have packet identifier values ranging from a base packet identifier value up to, but not including, a second packet identifier value.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said base packet identifier and said second packet identifier include packet identifiers that are functions of respective associated program channel numbers.

6. In a system for receiving a digital bitstream representing video information containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format including packet identifiers that identify individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program, apparatus comprising:

a first processor responsive to said bitstream for capturing program guide information including;

a predetermined base packet identifier for identifying a first datastream of a first program;

a second packet identifier of predetermined offset to said base packet identifier for identifying a second datastream of said first program; and

a second processor for capturing packets of said first program by capturing data with packet identifiers determined from base and second packet identifiers.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said base packet identifier comprises channel map packets.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said base packet identifier comprises a packet identifier value that is a function of an associated program channel number.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said first processor also captures program guide information including a predetermined third packet identifier for identifying a first datastream of a second program;

and

a fourth packet identifier of predetermined offset to said third packet identifier for identifying a second datastream of said second program;

wherein said second datastream of both said first and second programs contain data of the same type selected from video and audio types and have the same offset with respect to said first datastream of said first and said second programs respectively.

7. Apparatus according to claim wherein

said base packet identifier comprises a packet identifier value that is an integral multiple of a respective associated program channel number.

11. In a system for receiving a digital bitstream representing video information containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format including packet identifiers that identify individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program, apparatus comprising:

a processor responsive to said bitstream for capturing program guide information including;

a predetermined base packet identifier for identifying a first datastream of a first program;

a second packet identifier of a first predetermined offset to said base packet identifier for identifying a second datastream of said first program;

a third packet identifier of a second predetermined offset value to said base packet identifier for identifying a first datastream of a second program, wherein said first offset is less than said second offset; and

a processor for capturing packets of said first program by capturing data with packet identifiers matching said base and second packet identifiers.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said base packet identifier and said third packet identifier value are offset by an integral multiple of respective associated program channel numbers.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said base packet identifier and said third packet identifier comprise channel map packets.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said base packet identifier value and said third packet identifier comprises packet identifier values that are a function of an associated program channel number.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

said first processor also captures program guide information including a fourth packet identifier of a predetermined offset to said third packet identifier for identifying a second datastream of said second program, and

wherein said second datastream of both of said first and second programs contain data of the same type selected from video and audio types and have the same offset with respect to said first datastream of said first and said second programs respectively.

16. In a system for receiving a digital bitstream representing video information containing a plurality of packetized data programs in a data format including packet identifiers that identify individual programs and individual packetized datastreams associated with a program, a method comprising the steps of:

capturing program guide information in response to said bitstream, said program guide information including;

a predetermined base packet identifier for identifying a first program;

a second packet identifier having a predetermined offset to said base packet identifier for identifying a second program;

matching data packets with packet identifiers determined from said base packet identifier and said second packet identifier; and

capturing said matched data packets to provide selected program data.

17. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of digital data units related to the selection of programs represented by packets of compressed digital data representing video and audio information, said data units being contained in a data stream and being separated by an offset;

initiating the selection of a desired data unit corresponding to a desired program from a base data unit; and

utilizing said offset to locate said desired data unit corresponding to said desired program in relation to said base data unit.