Patent ID: 7398466

Claim:
A method implemented by an apparatus for managing metadata related to broadcasting multimedia content, the method comprising: storing an electronic document related to broadcasting a plurality of television programs, the electronic document having a hierarchical structure comprising an upper structural element and a plurality of lower structural elements located below the upper structural element in the hierarchical structure to describe broadcast information and content information for each of the television programs, a first lower structural element in the plurality of lower structural elements having a first version of metadata, wherein the first lower structural element is identified by a first element identifier and the first version of metadata is identified by a first version identifier corresponding to a first calendar date for the first version; reassigning the first element identifier to another element in the electronic document at a second calendar date; receiving a request from a client for an update of the electronic document after the second calendar date; and in response to the request, providing an update document to the client, the update document including a first update portion identifying invalid elements and a second update portion that includes the upper structural element and updates to a subset of the lower structural elements, wherein the first update portion includes the first element identifier and a second version identifier to indicate that metadata in the first lower structural element is no longer valid, wherein the second version identifier corresponds to the first or second calendar date.