Global Listings Format XML Schema for TV Data Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing proprietary formats for multimedia programming data are incompatible, leading to inconsistent and incomplete channel lineup information, causing processing inefficiencies and errors when transferring programming data across different regions and languages.
Innovation Solution
A global listings format (GLF) in XML schema definition (XSD) is introduced, which ensures self-consistency and completeness of programming data by interlocking and crosslocking data elements, allowing for accurate translation and validation of programming and lineup information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary listings formats are used by different IDPs, then each IDP can maintain its own data structure preferences, but the formats become incompatible and inconsistent, leading to processing errors and incomplete lineup information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal XML-based data exchange format that serves multiple IDPs and receiving entities simultaneously. The standardized schema defines common data elements for program listings, channel lineups, and schedule information that all participants can use, eliminating the need for each IDP to maintain separate proprietary formats while preserving the ability to exchange data reliably across different systems
2Quantity of substance
If proprietary formats emphasize program listings information, then listings data can be comprehensive, but lineup information becomes haphazard and incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The XML schema assigns specific data elements and attributes to different sections of the programming data. The lineup information section contains dedicated elements for channel identifiers, frequency, modulation type, and geographic coverage, while the program listings section contains title, description, and schedule information. This localized structuring ensures that each section receives appropriate attention and validation rules
3Quantity of substance
If programming data files are large and contain comprehensive information, then the data is more complete, but processing time increases to approximately twenty hours
Solution Approach 1:
The programming data file is segmented into distinct XML elements and sections that can be processed independently. The data is organized into program information blocks, channel lineup blocks, and schedule blocks, allowing receiving entities to parse and validate different sections separately. This modular structure enables more efficient processing compared to handling a monolithic data file
4Adaptability or versatility
If translations are added for different languages, then international accessibility is improved, but referential consistency is lost with multiple program numbers for one program
Solution Approach 1:
The XML schema nests language-specific translation information within the core program identifier structure. Each program element contains a primary identifier that remains consistent across all languages, with nested translation elements providing title and description in different languages. This nested structure allows multiple languages to be associated with a single program without creating multiple program numbers
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary global listings format (GLF) is metadata for electronically transferring multimedia programming content and electronic program guide information. The GLF metadata specifies a self-referential data structure having a self-consistency mechanism comprising interlocking and crosslocking data elements. The self-consistency mechanism ensures completeness and validity of transferred programming data. In one implementation, the exemplary GLF is expressed in an extensible markup language (XML) schema definition (XSD) specification.