Apparatus and method for providing, retrieving, and using data guide information supplied in a digital vestigial sideband signal

Abstract

A device for provisioning, retrieving, and using data guide information transmitted in a digital broadcast signal is disclosed. A receiver receives the digital broadcast signal which includes digital television programming packets multiplexed with data packets and thereafter routes the received signal to a demodulator. The demodulator provides a demodulated signal to a detector which identifies data packets contained therein. A processor then determines the types of data in the data packets, as well as the respective channels on which the identified types of data are transmitted. The processor prepares a menu for a display screen enabling a user to select the channel of interest, and enables the user to be connected accordingly.

1. A device for identifying types of data transmitted on multiple channels of a digital broadcast signal, displaying the identified types of data transmitted on each channel, and enabling a user to access the data transmitted on a particular channel, the device comprising:
 a scanning receiver adapted to tune to the digital broadcast signal on selected channels, the digital broadcast signal including at least one digital television programming packet and at least one data packet; 
 a demodulator coupled to the receiver and adapted to demodulate the digital broadcast signal; 
 a detector coupled to the demodulator and adapted to detect the at least one data packet; 
 a memory coupled to the detector, the memory being adapted to store data guide software code for identifying the type of data contained in the at least one data packet and the channel on which the identified type of data is available, the data guide software further being adapted to enable the data on any channel selected by an operator to be accessed; 
 a processor coupled to the memory and adapted to execute the data guide software code; and, 
 an operator interface module coupled to the processor, the operator interface module being adapted to display the identified types of data and the channels on which the identified types of data are available, the operator interface module further being adapted to enable any displayed channel to be selected. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor comprises a central processing unit of a personal computer, and the operator interface module comprises a video monitor and an input device. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the operator interface module comprises a display of a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein the operator interface module comprises a display of a telephone. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4  wherein the telephone comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor comprises a processing unit of a television, and the operator interface module comprises a display screen of the television. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one data packet includes at least one link to a website, the operator interface module enables the at least one website to be selected, and wherein the processor enables the at least one website to be accessed. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the data guide software code generates a data guide in menu format for display on the operator interface module. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8  wherein the operator interface module enables the operator to scroll through the menu before selecting a particular channel. 
     
     
       10. A method of providing a data guide summarizing types a type of data transmitted in a digital broadcast signal and the channels a channel corresponding to the types type of data comprising the steps of:
 receiving the digital broadcast signal containing digital programming packets and data packets; 
 demodulating the digital broadcast signal; 
 detecting the data packets; 
 storing the data guide based on information contained in the data packets; and, 
 displaying the data guide on a display of a personal digital assistant. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the digital broadcast signal is transmitted in multiple channels, and wherein the receiving step is performed by scanning through the multiple channels. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  further including the step of selecting one of the identified channels and gaining access to data transmitted on the selected channel. 
     
     
       13. The method of  10  performed by a central processing unit of a personal computer, wherein the displaying step is performed using a video monitor connected to the personal computer. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  performed by a processor of a television, wherein the displaying step is performed using a video screen of the television. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  wherein the displaying of the data guide comprises displaying the data guide on a display of a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10  wherein the displaying of the data guide comprises A method of providing a data guide summarizing a type of data transmitted in a digital broadcast signal and a channel corresponding to the type of data comprising the steps of:
 receiving the digital broadcast signal containing digital programming packets and data packets; 
 demodulating the digital broadcast signal; 
 detecting the data packets; 
 storing the data guide based on information contained in the data packets; and,  
 displaying the data guide on a display of a telephone. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the telephone comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
       18. A data casting system comprising:
 a receiver adapted to receive a digital broadcast signal containing at least one digital television programming packet and at least one data packet;   a detector coupled to the receiver and adapted to detect the at least one data packet, the detector further adapted to detect types of data transmitted within the at least one data packet and channels on which the detected types of data are available; and,   an operator interface module coupled to the detector and adapted to display the detected types of data and the channels on which the detected types of data are available.   
     
     
       19. The data casting system of  claim 18  further including a processor coupled to the detector, the processor being adapted to execute data guide software, the data guide software generating a menu based on the types of data and channels detected by the detector, the menu being displayed on the operator interface module. 
     
     
       20. The data casting system of  claim 19  wherein the operator interface module allows any of the displayed channels to be selected, and the data guide software and processor connect the operator interface module to the selected channel. 
     
     
       21. The data casting system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one channel includes at least one link to a website. 
     
     
       22. A computer readable storage medium of a digital program receiver having a data guide stored thereon, wherein the data guide contains a list of the types of data receivable by the digital program receiver and the corresponding RF channels in which the data is present. 
     
     
       23. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 22  wherein the data guide is a menu. 
     
     
       24. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 23  wherein the menu contains selectable items.