Web Based Program Guide for Digital Video Broadcasts

August 20, 2008 -- TRLabs’ researchers have developed a system to parse information from DVB signals for use in an interactive web based program guide.

The main window of the prototype programBenefits

Background

Satellite channels have conventionally delivered television programs and, along with the programs, an electronic program guide (EPG) to provide users with television programming and scheduling information. Current EPGs display textual information to the viewer about content being broadcast currently and in the near future. This provides essentially the same functionality as the TV page in a newspaper.

However, there is much more information contained in the broadcasted data stream of which little is used.  Bouquet descriptors sort services and programs into logical units and parental advisory descriptors give ratings for certain events. Also, programs are transmitted with additional subtitles or in other languages.  Mosaic descriptors are used to send small images to the viewer. Some programs make use of technical equipment such as surround sound or high definition video (HDTV). Satellite channels can also be used to deliver other media, such as video over IP, voice over IP, images, moving pictures, audio or MP3s, and software for interactive applications. These media and services can be provided to general Internet users if an appropriate gateway mechanism is used.

Currently, there is no provision to provide scheduling and programming information about these media. This project developed a multimedia program guide that offers scheduling and descriptions of services offered by any satellite channel for an area. This information can be offered to Internet users so that they will be able to access the media or services transmitted over a satellite.

A searchable database with programming information accessed via a web based interface will enable a number of useful services which can be easily implemented. For example, one could search for a favourite movie, and if it is not running in the next few days, add a reminder to send a message to a mobile phone once the event you have been looking for is located in the schedule. One could search for all programs currently being broadcast which are suitable for a child of a certain age.  Other services could include providing additional information about an event being viewed, such as the rules of a game, a list of members of a hall-of-fame for a sport being watched, or a link to the web site of the home team. A web based search engine with access to all of the programming information can offer much more flexibility and information than current EPGs on television set-top boxes and can serve as a multimedia program guide. These services are just now beginning to be rolled out in IPTV networks. This project will enable the same functionality for satellite content delivery systems, and will be appropriate for deployment in hotels, apartment buildings, and other scenarios where often no programming guide is currently offered at all.

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