Multimedia system for processing program guides and associated multimedia objects

Apparatus for decoding packetized program data from at least a first source, comprising:

• a processor for acquiring packetized program information including ancillary information and program guide information, said ancillary information including,
• (a) an object file comprising application software for use in commanding a device, and
• (b) a directory for associating said application software with a program listed in said program guide information;
• and
• a processor using said ancillary information and for executing said application software to command said device in processing said listed program.

Apparatus for decoding packetized program data from at least a first source to provide a program guide, comprising:

• a processor for acquiring program guide information and for acquiring ancillary information in said packetized program data, said ancillary information including,
• (a) a directory of object files associated with program guide information items, and
• (b) an object file decoding complexity level indicator, and
• a processor for disregarding object files of complexity level exceeding a predetermined level and for creating an image object from an object file and linking said image object to a program guide information item;
• and
• a display processor for forming a composite image including said image object and said program guide information item to provide a program guide for display.

A method for decoding packetized program data from at least a first source to provide a program guide, comprising the steps of:

• acquiring program guide information and for acquiring ancillary information in said packetized program data, said ancillary information including,
• (a) a directory of executable software application files associated with objects, and
• (b) a non-displayed map for associating an object with a program guide information item;
• and
• executing a software application to create an object;
• linking said image object to a program guide information item;
• and
• forming a composite image including said image object and said program guide information item to provide a program guide for display.

A method for decoding packetized program data from at least a first source, comprising the steps of:

• acquiring packetized program information including ancillary information and program guide information, said ancillary information including,
• (a) an object file comprising application software for use in commanding a device, and
• (b) a directory for associating said application software with a program listed in said program guide information;
• and
• using said ancillary information to determine a program for processing by a device;
• and
• executing said application software to command said device in processing said listed program.

A method for forming packetized program data to be suitable for processing in a decoder, comprising the steps of:

• forming program guide information and ancillary information including,
• (a) a directory of object files associated with program guide information items, and
• (b) a non-displayed map for associating said object files with said program guide information items;
• incorporating said ancillary information and said program guide information into packetized data for output to a transmission channel.