Method and system for devices efficiently sharing information regarding the content of a digital television bit-stream

An electronic system comprising:

• a first device for accessing a multimedia bit stream;
• a second device coupled to said first device and for generating a command requesting a table describing information in said multimedia bit stream, said command comprising:
• a plurality of attribute fields comprising:
• a table field for specifying a table identifier;
• and
• a multi-purpose field for specifying a select attribute related to a requested table, said select attribute selected from among a plurality of possible attributes;
• and
• a flag field for identifying said select attribute from said plurality of possible attributes held by said multi-purpose field;
• and
• in response to receiving said command, wherein said first device is operable to:
• determine if said flag field indicates a rating region table is requested, and if so, use ratings information in said multi-purpose field to provide said rating region table;
• determine if said flag field indicates an event information table is requested, and if so, use event information in said multi-purpose field to provide said event information table;
• and
• determine if said flag field indicates an extended text table is requested, and if so, use extended text information in said multi-purpose field to provide said extended text table.