Real-Time EPG Metadata Enrichment and Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for distributing electronic program guide (EPG) data are prone to errors due to manual entry and are not suitable for real-time provisioning, leading to unreliable programming information for viewers.
Innovation Solution
The system automates real-time EPG provisioning by using traffic data from programming content streams as metadata sources, enriching this metadata with supplemental information, and conforming it to formats used by EPG providers for real-time distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manual entry methods are used to distribute EPG data to multiple systems, then the process can be performed with existing infrastructure, but the reliability of EPG data is reduced due to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the EPG data automatically populate itself from the programming content streams. The metadata is extracted directly from the content being distributed, eliminating the need for manual entry and reducing errors while maintaining data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with an automated electronic extraction and distribution system. Software automatically extracts metadata from programming streams and distributes it to EPG systems, substituting human manual operations with automated computational processes.
2Loss of time
If real-time EPG provisioning is implemented, then the timeliness of programming information is improved, but the system complexity increases due to automated metadata aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the EPG metadata aggregation function into the existing programming content distribution infrastructure. By combining these functions, the system achieves real-time provisioning without adding significant complexity, as the same distribution network carries both content and metadata.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution system is made multi-functional by enabling it to simultaneously distribute both programming content and EPG metadata. This universal approach allows a single system to handle multiple tasks, reducing overall system complexity while achieving real-time provisioning.
3Productivity
If manual data entry is used across multiple systems, then the implementation can proceed with current resources, but the productivity of EPG data distribution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual data entry operations with automated electronic extraction and distribution processes. Software systems automatically capture metadata from programming streams and distribute it across multiple EPG systems in real-time, dramatically increasing distribution productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous real-time distribution of EPG metadata alongside programming content. Rather than periodic batch updates, the metadata flows continuously, ensuring EPG data is always current and improving overall distribution efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one implementation, an electronic program guide (EPG) provisioning system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code. The hardware processor executes the software code to receive traffic data for programming content included in a programming content stream, extract programming content metadata describing the programming content from the traffic data, and obtain supplemental metadata further describing the programming content. In addition, the hardware processor executes the software code to enrich the programming content metadata using the supplemental metadata to produce an enhanced programming content metadata, conform the enhanced programming content metadata to each of multiple formats corresponding respectively to EPG providers for the programming content stream, and distribute the enhanced programming content metadata to the EPG providers in real-time with respect to receiving the traffic data.