Electronic document versioning method and updated document supply method using version number based on XML

A method implemented by an apparatus for updating metadata related to broadcasting multimedia content, wherein the metadata is in XML format, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for an update to an electronic document from a client device storing an earlier version of the electronic document, wherein the electronic document is related to broadcasting a plurality of television programs and has 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, and wherein a first lower structural element in the earlier version is identified by a first element identifier and a first version identifier which is a numerical representation of a first calendar date on which the earlier version was created;
• and
• if the first element identifier is reassigned to another element in the electronic document, providing an update document to the client device, 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the first element identifier and a second version identifier to indicate that the first lower structural element is no longer valid, wherein the second version identifier is a numerical representation of the first calendar date or a second calendar date which is related to an updated version of the electronic document.

A method implemented by an apparatus for managing metadata related to broadcasting multimedia content, the method comprising:

• providing an electronic document related to broadcasting a plurality of television programs to a client, the electronic document having a hierarchical structure comprising an upper level fragment associated with an initial version of a plurality of lower level fragments located below the upper level fragment in the hierarchical structure, wherein the upper level fragment and the lower level fragments describe broadcast information and content information for each of the television programs, wherein the upper level fragment is identified by a first version identifier corresponding to a calendar date for the upper level fragment and the initial version of a first lower level fragment in the plurality of lower level fragments is identified by a first fragment identifier and a second version identifier corresponding to a calendar date for the initial version;
• reassigning the first fragment identifier to another element in the electronic document at a calendar date corresponding to the reassignment;
• receiving a request from the client for an update to the initial version of the lower level fragment after the reassignment;
• 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 level fragment and an updated version of a subset of the lower level fragments, wherein the first update portion includes the first fragment identifier and a third version identifier to indicate that the first lower level fragment is no longer valid, and wherein the updated version of the subset of the lower level fragments is identified by a fourth version identifier corresponding to a calendar date for the updated version.

A method implemented by an apparatus for managing metadata related to broadcasting multimedia content, the method comprising:

• receiving 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;
• requesting an update to the electronic document after the first calendar date;
• and
• in response to the request, receiving an update document, 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 calendar date or a calendar date which corresponds to a reassignment of the first element identifier.

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;
• verifying that the client needs to be notified about the first element identifier being reassigned;
• and
• providing an update document to the client, the update document discriminating the first version of the first lower structural element as being invalid from a new version in which the first element identifier is assigned to the another element in the electronic document.