Headend Modeling of Data

Abstract

A data modeling method for modeling data for an electronic program guide (EPG) at a broadcast headend is described. The method includes grouping receiver types according to a first set of characteristics associated with a receiver type, thereby producing a plurality of groups of receivers, assigning a bit-number to each group of receivers, providing EPG data, the EPG data including data for display at an EPG, the EPG data being included in a data fragment, evaluating the data fragment and the EPG data included therein according to at least one characteristic from a second set of characteristics, thereby producing a result, adding metadata to the data fragment, the metadata including a bit field including the assigned bit number, the bit number being determined in accordance with the result, the metadata being indicative of at least one characteristic from the first set of characteristics with which a data container and EPG data included therein are associated, and broadcasting the data fragment in the data container Related methods and apparatus are also described.

1 . A data modeling method for modeling data for an electronic program guide (EPG) at a broadcast headend, the method comprising:
 grouping receiver types according to a first set of characteristics associated with a receiver type, thereby producing a plurality of groups of receivers;   assigning a bit-number to each group of receivers;   providing EPG data, the EPG data comprising data for display at an EPG, the EPG data being comprised in a data fragment;   evaluating the data fragment and the EPG data comprised therein according to at least one characteristic from a second set of characteristics, thereby producing a result;   adding metadata to the data fragment, the metadata comprising a bit field comprising the assigned bit number, the bit number being determined in accordance with the result, the metadata being indicative of at least one characteristic from the first set of characteristics with which a data container and EPG data comprised therein are associated; and   broadcasting the data fragment in the data container.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the first set of characteristics comprises at least one of the following receiver characteristics:
 receiver hard drive size;   a receiver cache size;   the receiver being high definition television enabled; and   whether the receiver comprises a hard drive   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  and wherein the second set of characteristics comprises at least one of the following characteristics:
 a time when program material associated with the EPG data is scheduled to be broadcast;   the receiver hard drive size;   the receiver cache size;   the receiver being high definition television enabled; and   whether the receiver comprises a hard drive.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the receiver comprises a set top box (STB). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the receiver comprises a personal video recorder (PVR). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the receiver comprises an integrated digital television (IDTV). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the bit number comprises a bitmap bit-value. 
     
     
         8 . A data update method for program guide data, the method comprising:
 concurrently broadcasting a number of data containers, the number denoted M, each data container comprising at least a partial update to previously broadcasted program guide data, throughout a time-window of a fixed duration, denoted T; and   utilizing each data container to broadcast every M-th at least a partial update after an initial use of the data container, thereby creating a cycle of update containers,   wherein broadcasting the cycle of update containers continues until there are no further updates occurring within the time-window T, at which time broadcasting the cycle of update containers is paused.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein each data container comprises a version number. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein the version number comprises a version number of an EPG dataset. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein the number of data containers, M, comprises a fixed number of data containers. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein the number of data containers, M, comprises a variable number of data containers. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  and wherein a plurality of data containers comprise a complete update to previously broadcasted program guide data. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein receivers receiving the data containers sequentially apply the at least partial updates comprised in the data containers. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 8  and wherein the M data containers continue to be broadcast when the cycle of updates is paused. 
     
     
         16 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of updating electronic program guide (EPG) data, the method comprising:
 applying a version number to an EPG data set;   incrementing the version number with each EPG data set update;   broadcasting only a subset of EPG data set updates on a main EPG data transponder; and   broadcasting all EPG data set updates as part of a trickle update stream.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A data modeling system for modeling data for an electronic program guide (EPG) at a broadcast headend, the system comprising:
 a receiver type grouping unit, operative to group receiver types according to a first set of characteristics associated with each receiver type, thereby producing a plurality of groups of receivers;   an assigner operative to assign a bit-number to each group of receivers;   an EPG data provider which provides EPG data, the EPG data comprising data for display at an EPG, the EPG data being comprised in a data fragment;   an evaluator which evaluates the data fragment and the EPG data comprised therein according to at least one characteristic from a second set of characteristics, thereby producing a result;   a metadata adding unit operative to add metadata to the data fragment, the metadata comprising a bit field comprising the assigned bit number, the bit number being determined in accordance with the result, the metadata being indicative of at least one characteristic from the first set of characteristics with which the data container and EPG data comprised therein are associated; and   a broadcast system operative to broadcast the data fragment in the data container.   
     
     
         27 . A data update system for program guide data, the system comprising:
 a broadcast unit operative to concurrently broadcast a number of data containers, the number denoted M, each data container comprising at least a partial update to previously broadcasted program guide data, during a time-window of a fixed duration, denoted T; and   the broadcast unit being operative to utilize each data container to broadcast every M-th at least a partial update after an initial use of the data container, thereby creating a cycle of update containers,   wherein broadcasting the cycle of update containers continues until there are no further updates occurring within the time-window T, at which time the broadcasting of the cycle of updates is paused.   
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A system for updating electronic program guide (EPG) data, the system comprising:
 an EPG data set version number mechanism which applies a version number to an EPG data set;   an incrementer which increments the version number with each EPG data set update; and   a broadcast unit operative to perform at least one of the following:
 broadcast only a subset of EPG data set updates on a main EPG data transponder; and 
 broadcast all EPG data set updates as part of a trickle update stream. 
   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 14  and wherein the M data containers continue to be broadcast when the cycle of updates is paused. 
     
     
         32 . A data modeling system for modeling data for an electronic program guide (EPG) at a broadcast headend, the system comprising:
 means for receiver type grouping, grouping receiver types according to a first set of characteristics associated with each receiver type, thereby producing a plurality of groups of receivers;   means for assigning a bit-number to each group of receivers;   means for providing EPG data, the EPG data comprising data for display at an EPG, the EPG data being comprised in a data fragment;   means for data fragment evaluation, evaluating the data fragment and the EPG data comprised therein according to at least one characteristic from a second set of characteristics, thereby producing a result;   means for adding metadata to the data fragment, the metadata comprising a bit field comprising the assigned bit number, the bit number being determined in accordance with the result, the metadata being indicative of at least one characteristic from the first set of characteristics with which the data container and EPG data comprised therein are associated; and   means for broadcast to broadcast the data fragment in the data container.   
     
     
         33 . A system for updating electronic program guide (EPG) data, the system comprising:
 means for applying an EPG data set version number to an EPG data set;   means for incrementing the version number with each EPG data set update; and   means for broadcasting to perform at least one of the following:
 broadcast only a subset of EPG data set updates on a main EPG data transponder; and 
 broadcast all EPG data set updates as part of a trickle update stream.