System for forming and processing program map information suitable for terrestrial, cable or satellite broadcast

Apparatus for decoding MPEG compatible packetized program information to provide decoded program data, comprising:

• means for identifying channel map information conveyed within said packetized program information, said channel map information associating a broadcast channel with packet identifiers used to identify individual packetized datastreams that constitute a program transmitted in said broadcast channel;
• and
• means for assembling said identified information to form a channel map for identifying said individual packetized datastreams constituting said program, wherein
• said channel map information associates an individual program with a corresponding language type indicator.

A storage medium containing MPEG compatible digital data representing video information comprising:

• a video program;
• MPEG compatible program map information;
• and
• channel map information contained within said MPEG compatible digital data, wherein
• said channel map information replicates information conveyed in said MPEG compatible program map information and said replicated information associates packet identifiers with individual packetized datastreams that constitute said video program.

A storage medium containing MPEG compatible digital data representing video information comprising:

• a video program;
• MPEG compatible program map information;
• and
• channel map information contained within said MPEG compatible digital data, said channel map information associating packet identifiers with individual packetized datastreams that constitute said video program, wherein
• said channel map information replicates information conveyed in said MPEG compatible program map information and
• said channel map information further associates an individual program with a corresponding language type indicator.

Apparatus for forming program guide information suitable for decoding MPEG compatible packetized program information containing program map information to provide decoded program data, comprising:

• means for forming channel map information;
• and
• means for incorporating said channel map information into packetized program guide information for output, wherein
• said channel map information replicates information conveyed in said MPEG compatible program map information and said replicated information associates a broadcast channel with packet identifiers used to identify individual packetized datastreams that constitute a program transmitted on said broadcast channel.

A method for decoding MPEG compatible packetized program information containing program map information to provide decoded program data, comprising the steps of:

• identifying channel map information conveyed within said packetized program information;
• and
• assembling said identified information to form a channel map suitable for use in identifying said individual packetized datastreams constituting said program, wherein
• said channel map information replicates information conveyed in said MPEG compatible program map information and said replicated information associates packet identifiers with individual packetized datastreams that constitute a program transmitted on a broadcast channel.

A method for forming program guide information suitable for decoding MPEG compatible packetized program information containing program map information to provide decoded program data, comprising the steps of:

• forming channel map information;
• and
• incorporating said channel map information into packetized program guide information for output, wherein
• said channel map information replicates information conveyed in said MPEG compatible program map information and said replicated information associates a broadcast channel with packet identifiers used to identify individual packetized datastreams that constitute a program transmitted on said broadcast channel.