Claims
- 1. A method of managing MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) or other SI (Service Information) data, comprising:
receiving an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) packet containing SI data, the ATM packet having a virtual channel indicator (VCI) in a header thereof associating the SI data in the packet with a virtual channel; storing the SI information in a memory associated with the VCI; and retrieving the SI information from the memory upon request of a system processor.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving and storing are carried out by an ATM packet processor.
- 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the system processor comprises a main processor of a television set-top box.
- 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storing comprises storing the SI information in a buffer memory associated with the VCI.
- 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the buffer memory is one of a plurality of buffer memories, each associated with one of the VCIs.
- 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ATM packet is received as one of a stream of ATM packets from an out-of-band tuner.
- 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the VCI and SI data are formatted as an ATM packet at a cable television service provider head end.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, carried out in a television set-top box.
- 9. The method according to claim 1, carried out in a television system.
- 10. A television apparatus, comprising:
a receiver receiving a video data stream including MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) video data and converting the MPEG video data to a video signal; an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) interface, receiving a stream of ATM packets frequency multiplexed with the video data stream, the ATM packets carrying SI (Service Information) data and having a header carrying a virtual channel indicator (VCI), the VCI associating the SI data with a virtual channel; the ATM interface comprising:
an ATM processor; a plurality of buffer memories, one buffer memory for each of a plurality of virtual channels; and wherein, upon receipt of an ATM packet, the ATM processor reads the ATM packet's VCI and stores SI information associated with that VCI in the buffer memory for the virtual channel indicated by the VCI.
- 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a system processor, wherein the system processor obtains the SI data by sending a request to the ATM processor and receiving the SI data as a reply.
- 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ATM packet is received as one of a stream of ATM packets from an out-of-band tuner.
- 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the VCI and SI data are formatted as an ATM packet at a cable television service provider head end.
- 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising an in band tuner receiving video information.
- 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the system processor and the ATM processor are both coupled to a system bus, and wherein the request and reply are communicated over the system bus.
- 16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the television apparatus comprises one of a television and a television set-top box.
- 17. A method of supplying MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) or other SI (Service Information) data over a cable network, comprising:
associating an SI data segment with a virtual channel identifier (VCI); packaging the SI data segment in a data area of an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) packet; placing the VCI in a header of the ATM packet; and transmitting the packet over the cable network.
- 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
receiving the ATM packet containing the SI data with the VCI in the header; storing the SI information in a memory associated with the VCI; and retrieving the SI information from the memory upon request of a system processor.
- 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the receiving and storing are carried out by an ATM packet processor.
- 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the system processor comprises a main processor of a television set-top box.
- 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the storing comprises storing the SI information in a buffer memory associated with the VCI.
- 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the buffer memory is one of a plurality of buffer memories, each associated with one of the VCIs.
- 23. The method according to claim 17, wherein the ATM packet is transmitted as one of a stream of ATM packets.
- 24. The method according to claim 17, carried out in one of a television and a television set-top box.
- 25. An electronic storage medium containing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a method of managing MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) or other SI (Service Information) data, comprising:
receiving an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) packet containing SI data, the ATM packet having a virtual channel indicator (VCI) in a header thereof associating the SI data in the packet with a virtual channel; storing the SI information in a memory associated with the VCI; and retrieving the SI information from the memory upon request of a system processor.
- 26. The electronic storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the receiving and storing are carried out by an ATM packet processor.
- 27. The electronic storage medium according to claim 26, wherein the system processor comprises a main processor of a Television Set-Top Box.
- 28. The electronic storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the storing comprises storing the SI information in a buffer memory associated with the VCI.
- 29. The electronic storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the buffer memory is one of a plurality of buffer memories, each associated with one of the VCIs.
- 30. The electronic storage medium d according to claim 25, wherein the ATM packet is received as one of a stream of ATM packets from an out-of-band tuner.
- 31. The electronic storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the VCI and SI data are formatted as an ATM packet at a cable television service provider head end.
- 32. The electronic storage medium according to claim 25 forming a part of one of a television and a television set-top box.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority benefit under 35 U.S. C. § 119(e) or 35 U.S. C. § 120 of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/197,848, filed Apr. 14, 2000, Attorney Docket Number 50P3988, and entitled “User Interface for a Set-Top Box”, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/197,308, filed Apr. 14, 2000, Attorney Docket Number 50P3984, and entitled “Method for VOD”, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/197,233, filed Apr. 14, 2000, Attorney Docket Number 50P3877, and entitled “Cable Modem Set Top Box”, Provisional Patent Application No. 60/197,234, filed Apr. 14, 2000, Attorney Docket Number 50P3985, and entitled “Web Based EPG Support”, and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/197,320, filed Apr. 14, 2000, Attorney Docket Number 50P3983, and entitled “Support for tuning while viewing a Web Based EPG”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed Feb. 3, 2001 entitled “Web Browser Plug in for TV” to Kimble et al. Docket No. 50N3463 which are each hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/473,625, filed Dec. 29, 1999, Docket No. SONY-50N3508 entitled “Improved Internet Set-Top Box Having and In-Band Tuner and Cable Modem” is also hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (6)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60197848 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60197308 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60197233 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60197320 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60197234 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
|
60197310 |
Apr 2000 |
US |