Methods, systems, and products for providing video services

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing video services. A request for programming information for an event is received. A pointer to programming information that is common to multiple instances of the event is retrieved. The common programming information is retrieved.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 receiving a request for programming information for an event;    retrieving a pointer to programming information that is common to multiple instances of the event; and    retrieving the common programming information.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the common programming information comprises retrieving at least one of a description of the event, a year associated with the event, a cast associated with the event, and a rating associated with the event.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the common programming information comprises retrieving at least one of a duration associated with the event, a byte length of a title associated with the event, a byte length of a description associated with the event, a title pointer to a title associated with the event, and a description pointer to a description associated with the event.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving another pointer to programming information that is unique to an individual instance of the event.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising retrieving the unique programming information.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein retrieving the unique programming information comprises retrieving at least one of a start time for the individual instance of the event, an event identification associated with the individual instance of the event, a service identification associated with the individual instance of the event, and next event pointer to a next event.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a segment of the programming information that corresponds to the request.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sequentially receiving the programming information according to time.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the programming information according to time.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising reordering segments of the programming information according to time.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising comparing a new event to determine if detailed information associated with the new event has been processed.  
   
   
       12 . A system operative to: 
 receive a request for programming information for an event;    retrieve a pointer to programming information that is common to multiple instances of the event;    retrieve another pointer to programming information that is unique to an individual instance of the event;    retrieve the common programming information; and    retrieve the unique programming information.    
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12 , further operative to retrieve at least one of a description of the event, a year associated with the event, a cast associated with the event, and a rating associated with the event.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 12 , further operative to retrieve at least one of a duration associated with the event, a byte length of a title associated with the event, a byte length of a description associated with the event, a title pointer to a title associated with the event, and a description pointer to a description associated with the event.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 12 , further operative to retrieve at least one of a start time for the individual instance of the event, an event identification associated with the individual instance of the event, a service identification associated with the individual instance of the event, and next event pointer to the next event.  
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 12 , further operative to obtain a segment of the programming information that corresponds to the request.  
   
   
       17 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions for: 
 receiving a request for programming information for an event;    retrieving a pointer to programming information that is common to multiple instances of the event;    retrieving another pointer to programming information that is unique to an individual instance of the event;    retrieving the common programming information; and    retrieving the unique programming information.    
   
   
       18 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , further comprising computer-readable instructions for retrieving at least one of a description of the event, a year associated with the event, a cast associated with the event, and a rating associated with the event.  
   
   
       19 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , further comprising computer-readable instructions for retrieving at least one of a duration associated with the event, a byte length of a title associated with the event, a byte length of a description associated with the event, a title pointer to a title associated with the event, and a description pointer to a description associated with the event.  
   
   
       20 . The computer program product according to  claim 17 , further comprising computer-readable instructions for retrieving at least one of a start time for the individual instance of the event, an event identification associated with the individual instance of the event, a service identification associated with the individual instance of the event, and next event pointer to the next event.