Cooperative EPG Data Transmission via Broadcast and Return Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of digital broadcasting channels increases, the existing systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting and managing Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data through broadcasting bandwidth, leading to difficulties in finding specific programs and increasing costs for service providers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize cooperative transmission between a broadcasting network and a communication network, where an EPG transmission server sends part of the EPG data through the broadcasting network and embeds request commands for remaining data, while an EPG head end server responds to user requests via a communication network, optimizing bandwidth usage by transmitting only essential data through the broadcasting network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of digital broadcasting channels increases, then the variety of programs available to users improves, but the amount of EPG data to be transmitted increases rapidly, making it difficult to find specific programs and increasing service provider costs
Solution Approach 1:
The EPG data is segmented into two parts: essential data transmitted through the broadcasting network and additional data transmitted through the communication network. This segmentation allows the system to handle the increasing amount of EPG data from multiple channels without overloading the broadcasting network bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential EPG data (such as program schedules and basic information) and transmits it through the broadcasting network, while extracting additional detailed information and transmitting it through the communication network. This extraction approach reduces the data load on the broadcasting network while maintaining comprehensive program information availability.
2Loss of information
If 7 days EPG data are transmitted through the broadcasting bandwidth, then users have access to comprehensive program information, but the broadcasting bandwidth requirement increases to about 7 M
Solution Approach 1:
The EPG data is divided into essential data for immediate viewing (transmitted through broadcasting network) and additional data for future reference (transmitted through communication network). This segmentation enables the system to provide comprehensive EPG data while significantly reducing the broadcasting bandwidth requirement from 7 M to approximately 2 M or less.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits only the partial essential EPG data through the broadcasting network rather than all 7 days of data. The remaining data is transmitted through the communication network only when needed, achieving a balance between data completeness and bandwidth efficiency.
3Loss of information
If all EPG data is transmitted through the broadcasting network, then users receive complete program information, but the transmission cost and network load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication network serves as an intermediary for transmitting additional EPG data that cannot be accommodated in the broadcasting network bandwidth. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain information completeness while distributing the transmission load across two networks, reducing the complexity of the broadcasting network infrastructure.
4Loss of energy
If the broadcasting bandwidth is reduced to 2 M or less, then the cost for service providers decreases, but the amount of data that can be transmitted is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The data transmission is segmented between two networks: the broadcasting network handles essential EPG data within the limited 2 M bandwidth, while the communication network handles additional data. This segmentation allows the broadcasting network to operate efficiently at lower bandwidth while the overall system maintains high data transmission capacity through the combined capability of both networks.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system and a method for the construction of EPG service through cooperative transmission of electronic program guide data. The system of the present invention comprises an EPG transmission server transmitting, through a forward path mediated by a broadcasting network, a part of total EPG data to be transmitted to a settop box and data into which request commands for remaining EPG data not transmitted via the broadcasting network are embedded; an EPG head end server transmitting the remaining EPG data in response to user's request through a return path mediated by a communication network; and a settop box equipped with an EPG application which processes the EPG data received from the EPG transmission server and the EPG head end server. The EPG data transmitted via the broadcasting network includes both a service description table and an event information table. The system and the method for the construction of EPG service in accordance with the present invention require a significantly reduced broadcasting bandwidth for the EPG data transmission, compared with the conventional method or system. EPG service construction can be achieved using the broadcasting bandwidth of 2 M or smaller. Also, the system is applicable to various EPG applications without sacrificing user's satisfaction at all.