Patent Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of requesting a program-guide index, receiving the program-guide index, and determining whether there exists any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide index. The method further comprises requesting a new program-guide record and receiving the program-guide record. In one aspect, a method for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of receiving a program-guide update indication, and determining any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide update indication. The method further comprises requesting an updated program-guide record, receiving the updated program-guide record, and updating the program-guide records.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119  
       [0001]     The present Application for Patent claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/590,127 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Publishing non-real-time Multimedia content to a Multimedia Content Distribution System Consisting of a Content Distribution network and a Wireless Radio Network such as CDMA2000” filed Jul. 21, 2004, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field  
         [0003]     The disclosed embodiments of the invention relate generally to the operation of content distribution systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing content information to content servers in a data network.  
         [0004]     2. Background  
         [0005]     In media-distribution systems, a program guide (PG), which describes a delivery schedule of available content or services, may be provided to content servers (CSs) in a distribution network. For example, a content provider that operates on the distribution network may provide the PG to CSs in communication with the network. The CSs receiving the PG operate to display information in the PG to device users who then may select content or services to be received by a device. For example, a device user may select and/or subscribe to receive content or services that include multimedia content, clips, programs, scripts, data, customer services, or any other type of content or service.  
         [0006]     Therefore, what is needed is a system that operates to provide content information to content servers in a distribution network, so that the content servers may update their locally stored copies of the content in an efficient manner. The system should also operate to minimize the amount of PG information that is transmitted to allow content servers to update their locally stored copies of the content, while avoiding wasteful transmission and/or re-transmissions of whole content information.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In one or more embodiments, a content-delivery system, comprising methods and apparatus, is provided that operates to provide content information to content servers in a data network.  
         [0008]     In one aspect, a method for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of requesting a program-guide index, receiving the program-guide index, and determining whether there exists any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide index. The method further comprises requesting a new program-guide record and receiving the program-guide record.  
         [0009]     In one aspect, a method for maintaining program-guide records comprises the steps of receiving a program guide update indication, and determining any new program-guide record based on the received program guide update indication. The method further comprises requesting an updated program-guide record, receiving the updated program-guide record, and consequently updating the program-guide records.  
         [0010]     In one aspect, a method for maintaining content records comprises the steps of requesting a content index, receiving the content index, and determining whether there exists any new content record based on the received content index. The method further comprises requesting the new content record and receiving the new content record.  
         [0011]     In one aspect, a method for providing program-guide records by a content provider to a content server comprises the steps of sending a program guide update indication to a content server, receiving a request for an updated program-guide record from the content server, and sending the updated program-guide record to the content server.  
         [0012]     In one aspect, a method for providing content records by a content provider to a content server comprises the steps of sending a content indication to the content server, receiving a request for a content record, and sending the requested content record.  
         [0013]     In one aspect, apparatus is provided for providing and/or updating a program guide and/or content that comprises processing logics that operate to perform the above processes.  
         [0014]     In one aspect, a computer-readable media is provided that comprises instructions, which when executed by a processor, operate to perform the above processes.  
         [0015]     Other aspects of the embodiments will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The foregoing aspects of the embodiments described herein will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a network that comprises one embodiment of a content delivery system;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a content provider suitable for use in one embodiment of the content delivery system;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of a content server suitable for use in one embodiment of the content delivery system;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of pulling program guide information from a content provider system;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  show one embodiment of a program-guide index;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  show one embodiment of a program-guide record;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of pushing program guide information to a content server system;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of pulling content information from a content provider system;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9A  through  FIG. 9C  show one embodiment of a content index;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a presentation record;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11A  through  FIG. 11C  show one embodiment of a program record; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 12B  show one embodiment of a content information delivery system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     The following detailed description describes one or more embodiments of a content delivery system. The system is especially well suited for use in wireless network environments, but may be used in any type of network environment, including but not limited to, communication networks, public networks, such as the Internet, private networks, such as virtual private networks (VPN), local area networks, wide area networks, long haul networks, or any other type of data or communication network.  
         [0030]     In one or more embodiments, the content delivery system operates to provide the current program guide (PG) records to content servers (CSs) on a distribution network. For example, the PG record is maintained at a content provider and contains a list of scheduled content and/or services that are available for the CSs to receive. A copy of the PG records may also be maintained at authorized CSs on the distribution network. In one embodiment, when the PG record at the content provider (CP) is updated, an indication of the updated PG records may be transmitted to CSs on the distribution network. When a CS receives the indication of the updated PG records, CS determines whether or not to retrieve all or selected portions of the PG records to update its local copy of PG records. In one embodiment, a CS requests for PG index from a CP on a regular basis, scheduled polling or based on a predetermined frequency, to determine whether or not any changes has occurred to the PG records at he CP. If the received PG index indicated any update to the PG records, the CS may retrieve all or selected portions of the PG records to update its local copy of PG records. Thus, each CS is able to maintain a current copy of the PG record, thereby allowing the end users to subscribe to current content or services that may be available. As a result, the update notification scheme avoids the burden and inefficiencies associated with re-transmitting the entire PG records and/or program contents to all CSs every time the PG records and/or the content or service change.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a communication network  100  that comprises one embodiment of a transport system that operates to create and transport multimedia content flows across data networks. For example, the transport system is suitable for use in transporting content clips from a content provider network to a wireless access network for broadcast distribution.  
         [0032]     The network  100  comprises a content provider (CP)  102 , a content provider network  104 , an optimized broadcast network  106 , and a wireless access network  108 . The network  100  also includes devices  110  that comprise a mobile telephone  112 , a personal digital assistance (PDA)  114 , and a notebook computer  116 . The devices  110  illustrate just some of the devices that are suitable for use in one or more embodiments of the transport system. It should be noted that although three devices are shown in  FIG. 1 , virtually any number of devices, or types of devices are suitable for use in the transport system.  
         [0033]     The content provider  102  operates to provide content for distribution to users in the network  100 . The content comprises video, audio, multimedia content, clips, real-time and non real-time content, scripts, programs, data or any other type of suitable content. The content provider  102  provides the content to the content provider network  104  for distribution. For example the content provider  102  communicates with the content provider network  104  via the communication link  118 , which comprises any suitable type of wired and/or wireless communication link.  
         [0034]     The content provider network  104  comprises any combination of wired and wireless networks that operate to distribute content for delivery to users. The content provider network  104  communicates with the optimized broadcast network  106  via the link  120 . The link  120  comprises any suitable type of wired and/or wireless communication link. The optimized broadcast network  106  comprises any combination of wired and wireless networks that are designed to broadcast high quality content. For example, the optimized broadcast network  106  may be a specialized proprietary network that has been optimized to deliver high quality content to selected devices over a plurality of optimized communication channels.  
         [0035]     In one or more embodiments, the transport system operates to deliver content from the content provider  102  for distribution to a content server (CS)  122  at the content provider network  104  that operates to communicate with a broadcast base station (BBS)  124  at the wireless access network. The CS  122  and the BBS  124  communicate using one or more embodiments of a transport interface  126  that allows the content provider network  104  to deliver content in the form of content flows to the wireless access network  108  for broadcast/multicast to the devices  110 . The transport interface  126  comprises a control interface  128  and a bearer channel  130 . The control interface  128  operates to allow the CS  122  to add, change, cancel, or otherwise modify contents flows that flow from the content provider network  104  to the wireless access network  108 . The bearer channel  130  operates to transport the content flows from the content provider network  104  to the wireless access network  108 .  
         [0036]     In one embodiment, the CS  122  uses the transport interface  126  to schedule a content flow to be transmitted to the BBS  124  for broadcast/multicast over the wireless access network  108 . For example, the content flow may comprise a non real-time content clip that was provided by the content provider  102  for distribution using the content provider network  104 . In one embodiment, the CS  122  operates to negotiate with the BBS  124  to determine one or more parameters associated with the content clip. Once the BBS  124  receives the content clip, it broadcasts/multicasts the content clip over the wireless access network  108  for reception by one or more of the devices  110 . Any of the devices  110  may be authorized to receive the content clip and cache it for later viewing by the device user.  
         [0037]     For example the device  110  comprises a client program  132  that operates to provide a program guide that displays a listing of content that is scheduled for broadcast over the wireless access network  108 . The device user may then select to receive any particular content for rendering in real-time or to be stored in a cache  134  for later viewing. For example the content clip may be scheduled for broadcast during the evening hours, and the device  112  operates to receive the broadcast and cache the content clip in the cache  134  so that the device user may view the clip the next day. Typically, the content is broadcast as part of a subscription service and the receiving device may need to provide a key or otherwise authenticate itself to receive the broadcast.  
         [0038]     In one or more embodiments, the transport system allows the CS  122  to receive program-guide records, program contents, and other related information from content provider  102 . The CS  122  updates and/or creates content for delivery to devices  110 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a content provider server  200  suitable for use in one embodiment of the content delivery system. For example, the server  200  may be used as the server  102  in  FIG. 1 . The server  200  comprises processing logic  202 , resources and interfaces  204 , and transceiver logic  210 , all coupled to an internal data bus  212 . The server  200  also comprises activation logic  214 , PG  206 , and PG records logic  208 , which are also coupled to the data bus  212 .  
         [0040]     In one or more embodiments, the processing logic  202  comprises a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, virtual machine, software, and/or any combination of hardware and software. Thus, the processing logic  202  generally comprises logic to execute machine-readable instructions and to control one or more other functional elements of the server  200  via the internal data bus  212 .  
         [0041]     The resources and interfaces  204  comprise hardware and/or software that allow the server  200  to communicate with internal and external systems. For example, the internal systems may include mass storage systems, memory, display driver, modem, or other internal device resources. The external systems may include user interface devices, printers, disk drives, or other local devices or systems.  
         [0042]     The transceiver logic  210  comprises hardware logic and/or software that operates to allow the server  200  to transmit and receive data and/or other information with remote devices or systems using communication channel  216 . For example, in one embodiment, the communication channel  216  comprises any suitable type of communication link to allow the server  200  to communicate with a data network.  
         [0043]     The activation logic  214  comprises a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, virtual machine, software, and/or any combination of hardware and software. The activation logic  214  operates to activate a CS and/or a device to allow the CS and/or the device to select and receive content and/or services described in the PG  206 . In one embodiment, the activation logic  214  transmits a client program  220  to the CS and/or the device during the activation process. The client program  220  runs on the CS and/or the device to receive the PG  206  and display information about available content or services to the device user. Thus, the activation logic  214  operates to authenticate a CS and/or a device, download the client  220 , and download the PG  206  for rendering on the device by the client  220 .  
         [0044]     The PG  206  comprises information in any suitable format that describes content and/or services that are available for devices to receive. For example, the PG  206  may be stored in a local memory of the server  200  and may comprise information such as content or service identifiers, scheduling information, pricing, and/or any other type of relevant information. In one embodiment, the PG  206  comprises one or more identifiable sections that are updated by the processing logic  202  as changes are made to the available content or services.  
         [0045]     The PG record  208  comprises hardware and/or software that operates to generate notification messages that identify and/or describe changes to the PG  206 . For example, when the processing logic  202  updates the PG  206 , the PG records logic  208  is notified about the changes. The PG records logic  208  then generates one or more notification messages that are transmitted to CSs, which may have been activated with the server  200 , so that these CSs are promptly notified about the changes to the PG  206 .  
         [0046]     In one embodiment, as part of the content delivery notification message, a broadcast indicator is provided that indicates when a section of the PG identified in the message will be broadcast. For example, in one embodiment, the broadcast indicator comprises one bit to indicate that the section will be broadcast and a time indicator that indicates when the broadcast will occur. Thus, the CSs and/or the devices wishing to update their local copy of the PG records can listen for the broadcast at the designated time to receive the updated section of the PG records.  
         [0047]     In one embodiment, the content delivery notification system comprises program instructions stored on a computer-readable media, which when executed by a processor, for instance, the processing logic  202 , provides the functions of the server  200  described herein. For example, the program instructions may be loaded into the server  200  from a computer-readable media, such as a floppy disk, CDROM, memory card, FLASH memory device, RAM, ROM, or any other type of memory device or computer-readable media that interfaces to the server  200  through the resources  204 . In another embodiment, the instructions may be downloaded into the server  200  from an external device or network resource that interfaces to the server  200  through the transceiver logic  210 . The program instructions, when executed by the processing logic  202 , provide one or more embodiments of a guide state notification system as described herein.  
         [0048]     During operation of one embodiment of the content delivery notification system, the CP server  200  performs one or more of the following functions. 
    1. A program guide is defined in one or more identifiable sections (i.e., service levels, blocks, time intervals, etc.) and delivered to CSs and/or devices on a data network during an activation process.     2. When one or more sections of the program guide are updated or changed, one or more notification messages are generated that identify the sections of the program guide that have been changed.     3. The notification messages are transmitted to CSs and/or devices in the data network. The CSs and/or devices process the notification messages to determine if their local versions of the PG need to be updated.     4. In one embodiment, one or more sections of the PG are broadcast from the server  200 . These sections may comprise the entire PG or selected sections of the PG. The CSs and/or devices receive selected sections of the broadcasted PG and update their local copies of the PG as necessary.     5. In another embodiment, in response to receiving the notification messages, the CSs and/or devices transmit requests to the server  200  for one or more sections of the PG. The server  200  responds by transmitting the requested sections of the PG, which are used to update the local copies of the PG at the requesting CSs and/or devices.    
 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of a content server (CS) or device  300  suitable for use in one embodiment of a content delivery system. For example, CS  300  may be the CS  122  or the device  110  shown in  FIG. 1 . The CS  300  comprises processing logic  302 , resources and interfaces  304 , and transceiver logic  306 , all coupled to a data bus  308 . The CS  300  also comprises a client  310 , a program logic  314  and a PG logic  312 , which are also coupled to the data bus  308 .  
         [0055]     In one or more embodiments, the processing logic  302  comprises a CPU, processor, gate array, hardware logic, memory elements, virtual machine, software, and/or any combination of hardware and software. Thus, the processing logic  302  generally comprises logic configured to execute machine-readable instructions and to control one or more other functional elements of the CS  300  via the internal data bus  308 .  
         [0056]     The resources and interfaces  304  comprise hardware and/or software that allow the CS  300  to communicate with internal and external systems. For example, internal systems may include mass storage systems, memory, display driver, modem, or other internal device resources. The external systems may include user interface devices, printers, disk drives, or other local devices or systems.  
         [0057]     The transceiver logic  306  comprises hardware and/or software that operate to allow the CS  300  to transmit and receive data and/or other information with external devices or systems through communication channel  314 . For example the communication channel  314  may comprise a network communication link, a wireless communication link, or any other type of communication link.  
         [0058]     During operation, the CS and/or the device  300  is activated so that it may receive available content or services over a data network. For example, in one embodiment, the CS and/or the device  300  identifies itself to a content provider server during an activation process. As part of the activation process, the CS and/or the device  300  receives and stores PG records by PG logic  312 . The PG  312  contains information that identifies content or services available for the CS  300  to receive. The client  310  operates to render information in the PG logic  312  on the CS and/or the device  300  using the resources and interfaces  304 . For example, the client  310  renders information in the PG logic  312  on a display screen that is part of the device. The client  310  also receives user input through the resources and interfaces so that a device user may select content or services.  
         [0059]     In one embodiment, the CS  300  receives notification messages through the transceiver logic  306 . For example, the messages may be broadcast or unicast to the CS  300  and received by the transceiver logic  306 . The PG notification messages identify updates to the PG records at the PG logic  312 . In one embodiment, the client  310  processes the PG notification messages to determine whether the local copy at the PG logic  312  needs to be updated. For example, in one embodiment, the notification messages include a section identifier, start time, end time, and version number. The CS  300  operates to compare the information in the PG notification messages to locally stored information at the existing PG logic  312 . If the CS  300  determines from the PG notification messages that one or more sections of the local copy at the PG logic  312  needs to be updated, the CS  300  operates to receive the updated sections of the PG in one of several ways. For example, the updated sections of the PG may be broadcasted at a time indicated in the PG notification messages, so that the transceiver logic  306  may receive the broadcasts and pass the updated sections to the CS  300 , which in turn updates the local copy at the PG logic  312 .  
         [0060]     In another embodiment, the CS  300  determines which sections of the PG need to be updated based on the received PG update notification messages, and transmits a request to a CP server to obtain the desired updated sections of the PG. For example, the request may be formatted using any suitable format and comprise information such as a requesting CS identifier, section identifier, version number, and/or any other suitable information.  
         [0061]     In one embodiment, the CS  300  performs one or more of the following functions in one or more embodiments of a PG notification system. It should be noted that the following functions might be changed, rearranged, modified, added to, deleted, or otherwise adjusted within the scope of the embodiments. 
    1. The CS is activated for operation with a content provider system to receive content or services. As part of the activation process, a client and PG are transmitted to the CS.     2. One or more PG notification messages are received by the CS and used to determine if one or more sections of the locally stored PG need to be updated.     3. In one embodiment, if the CS determines that one or more sections of the locally stored PG need to be updated, the CS listens to a broadcast from the distribution system to obtain the updated sections of the PG that it needs to update its local copy.     4. In another embodiment, the CS transmits one or more request messages to the CP to obtain the updated sections of the PG it needs.     5. In response to the request, the CP transmits the updated sections of the PG to the CS.     6. The CS uses the received updated sections of the PG to update its local copy of the PG.    
 
         [0068]     In one embodiment, the content delivery system comprises program instructions stored on a computer-readable media, which when executed by a processor, such as the processing logic  302 , provides the functions of the content delivery notification system as described herein. For example, instructions may be loaded into the CS  300  from a computer-readable media, such as a floppy disk, CDROM, memory card, FLASH memory device, RAM, ROM, or any other type of memory device or computer-readable media that interfaces to the CS  300  through the resources and interfaces  304 . In another embodiment, the instructions may be downloaded into the CS  300  from a network resource that interfaces to the CS  300  through the transceiver logic  306 . The instructions, when executed by the processing logic  302 , provide one or more embodiments of a contnt delivery system as described herein.  
         [0069]     It should be noted that the CS  300  represents just one implementation and that other implementations are possible within the scope of the embodiments.  
         [0070]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of a method  400  for providing one embodiment of a PG records update system. For clarity, the method  400  is described herein with reference to the CP  402  and CS  404 , as described above in reference with  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0071]     At block  406 , a method for maintaining program-guide records starts with requesting a program-guide index from a CP  402 . The request may be based on a regular or scheduled polling, any predetermined frequency, or based on need as determined by CS or another entity. After receiving the program-guide index from CP  402 , in block  408 , the CS  404  determines whether there exists any new program-guide record based on the received program-guide index, in block  410 . If there were any updated or new PG records, the CS  404  requests for the new program-guide record, in block  412 . The CS  404  receives the new or updated program-guide records from the CP  402 , in block  414 , and may update the program-guide records maintained locally at the CS  404 , in block  416 .  
         [0072]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show one embodiment of a program-guide index. The PG index  502  comprises at least one of a program-guide-index time stamp  504  and a program guide reference  506 . The program reference  506  comprises at least one of a content provider service ID  510 , a program guide time stamp  512 , and a program guide location  514 .  
         [0073]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show one embodiment of a PG record. The PG  602  comprises at least one of a CP service ID  604 , a PG start time  606 , a PG end time  608 , and a PG presentation  610 . The PG presentation  610 , shown in  FIG. 6B , comprises at least one of presentation title  614 , a presentation sub-title  616 , a presentation description  618 , a presentation genre  620 , a presentation rating  622 , a presentation rating modifier  624 , a presentation start time  626 , and a presentation duration  628 .  
         [0074]      FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of a method  700  for providing one embodiment of a PG records update system. For clarity, the method  700  is described herein with reference to the CP  702  and CS  704 , as described above in reference with  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0075]     A method for updating program-guide records starts with the CP  702  sending a program guide update indication, in block  706 . Sending the update indication may be based on unscheduled updates that occur to the PG records at the CP  702 . The updated indication may be sent also based on a predetermined frequency, or based on a request from CS  704  or any other entity in the network. The CS  704  may send a response, in block  708 , to the CP  702  upon receiving the update indication. Based on the received update indication, the CS  704  may determine any new or updated program-guide record, in block  710 . If there were any updated or new PG records, the CS  704  may request for a new or updated program-guide record, in block  712 , without waiting for any scheduled polling routine. The CS  704  receives the requested program-guide record from the CP  702 , in block  714 , and may update the program-guide records maintained locally at the CS  704 , in block  716 .  
         [0076]      FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of a method  800  for providing content records. For clarity, the method  800  is described herein with reference to the CP  802  and CS  804 , as described above in reference with  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0077]     At block  806 , a method for providing content records starts with requesting a content index from a CP  802 . The request may be based on a regular polling schedule, any predetermined schedule, or based on need as determined by CS  804  or another entity in the network. In one embodiment, the request may comprise of the URL address of the entity that provides content, which may be the same or different from the entity that provides PG information. After receiving the content index in block  808 , the CS  804  determines whether there exists any new program or presentations records based on the received content index, in block  810 . If there were any updated an/or new program or presentations records, the CS  804  requests for at least one new presentation record, in block  812 . The CS  804  receives the presentation records from the CP  802 , in block  814 , and may create and/or updates the presentation records maintained locally at the CS  804 , in block  816 . The presentation record may comprise at least one program record. For example, the presentation record may identify a “News” presentation, which may comprise “Commercial” programs. Similarly, the CS  804  requests for a new program record, in block  818 . The CS  804  receives the program records from the CP, in block  820 , and may create and/or update the program records maintained locally at the CS  804 , in block  822 . Eventually, the CS  804  may request program contents, based on the received presentation and/or program records, in block  824 . The CS  804  may create program contents, which may include encryption, encoding, compression, and other actions as required for providing content to end user&#39;s devices.  
         [0078]      FIGS. 9A through 9C  show one embodiment of a content index. The content index  902  comprises at least one of a content-index time stamp  904 , a presentation reference  906 , and a program reference  908 . The program reference  906 , shown in  FIG. 9B , comprises at least one of a presentation time stamp  910  and a presentation location  912 . The program reference  908 , shown in  FIG. 9C , comprises a program time stamp  914  and a program location  916 .  
         [0079]      FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a presentation record. The presentation record  1002  comprises a CP program ID  1004  and a presentation location information  1006 , e.g., an URL address.  
         [0080]      FIGS. 11A through 11C  show one embodiment of a program record. The program record  1102  comprises at least one of a program rating  1104 , a program duration  1106 , and a program content information  1108 . The program rating  1104  comprises at least one of a program MPAA rating  1112 , a program TV rating  1114 , or other rating scheme. The program content information  1108  comprises a program content encoding scheme  1116  and a program content location  1118 .  
         [0081]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  show a flow chart for a media information delivery system and method. In block  1202 , a content server (CS) receives program-guide index from a content provider (CP). The index may be requested by the CS, sent by another entity, or send by the CP. In block  1204 , at least one CS may request a program-guide records from the CP, based on availability of any new or updated program guide at the CP. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12B , blocks  1218  through  1222 , the CP may provide a program guide update indication to at least one CS, and the CS may request a new or updated PG record from the CP.  
         [0082]     In any case, the CS receives content index from the CP in block  1206 . The content index may identify at least one presentation record, which may comprise at least one program record. In block  1208 , the CS may request at least one presentation record. In block  1210 , the CS may request at least one of the program records associated with the current presentation. Consequently, the CS may also request a program content from the CP, in block  1212 . In block  1214 , it is determined if there were more program records associated with the current presentation. If there were more programs, CS may request such programs in blocks  1210  through  1212 . In block  1216 , it is determined if there were more presentations. If there were more presentations, CS may request such presentations, as well as the associated programs, in blocks  1208  through  1214 . After all scheduled presentations are processed, the process restarts at block  1202  for next scheduled polling of the content provider, or at block  1218  for receiving the next update indication from the CP.  
         [0083]     Thus, while one or more embodiments of a content delivery system have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims

Technology Classification (CPC): 7