Methods for slice-based encoding of program guides and user interfaces. The
program guides include multiple video streams for picture-in-picture and
other applications. A method for encoding the program guide includes
encoding a first set of slices for each of a plurality of graphics pages;
and encoding a second set of slices for each of a plurality of video
streams.
The user interfaces are multi-functional and may be used for electronic
commerce and other applications. A method of generating the user interface
includes encoding a set of slices for each of a plurality of objects, each
object being characterized by an identity, at least one attribute, and at
least one operation. In one embodiment of this method, the plurality of
objects include an electronic commerce object, where the electronic
commerce object is attributed with a first hyper text markup language
(HTML) page.
A head-end centric system and apparatus for encoding and delivery of
realtime and non-realtime content, including: a non-realtime content
source for providing non-realtime content; a non-realtime encoder for
encoding the non-realtime content into encoded non-realtime content; a
realtime content source for providing realtime video and audio content; a
realtime encoder for encoding the realtime video and audio content into
encoded real-time video and audio; a remultiplexer for repacketizing the
encoded non-realtime content and the encoded realtime video and audio into
transport packets; and a re-timestamp unit coupled to the remultiplexer
for providing timestamps to be applied to the transport packets in order
to synchronize the realtime and non-realtime content therein.
