Program guide optimization system

Abstract

A method and system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission is described. The method includes sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, each string among the plurality of strings including a shared sorting key, implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index, wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure. Related methods and apparatus are also described.

1 . A method of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission, the method comprising:
 sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, each string among the plurality of strings comprising a shared sorting key; and   implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index,   wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  and wherein the sorted sharing index comprises a Patricia tree sort index. 
     
     
         3 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission, the system comprising:
 a string sharer operative to share, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, the plurality of strings comprising a shared sorting key; and   a sorter operative to implement an order access of a sorted sharing index,   wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure.   
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A system of optimizing strings comprised in program guide data for transmission, the system comprising:
 means for sharing, in the program guide data, a plurality of strings, the plurality of strings comprising a shared sorting key; and   means for implementing an order access of a sorted sharing index,   wherein the program guide data and the shared sorting key are comprised in the same data storage structure.