Multimedia system for processing program guides and associated multimedia objects

1. 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 executable software application files associated with objects, and

(b) a non-displayed map for associating an object with a program guide information item;

a processor for executing a software application to create an object and linking said 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.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said directory of executable software application files lists a file associated with at least one of (a) a broadcast program, (b) a broadcast channel and (c) User interface controls.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an object comprises at least one of (a) a video segment, (b) an audio segment, (c) text, (d) an icon representing a user selectable item for display, (e) an HTML or SGML document (f) a menu of selectable items, (g) an image window for presentation within an encompassing image, and (h) an image window for initiating a multimedia function.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said ancillary information further includes acquisition information for use in acquiring said ancillary information from a second source different to said first source, and

said acquisition information includes one of (a) an Internet URL, (b) an Internet IP address, (c) an Email address, and (d) a telephone/fax/videophone number.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said display processor provides said program guide for display in response to a User selection input command selecting between available program guides.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said ancillary information includes an object complexity level indicator, and said apparatus disregards objects of complexity level exceeding a predetermined level.

7. 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.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said application software performs at least one of the following functions, (a) commands a VCR/DVD device to record a program at a scheduled broadcast time, (b) commands said apparatus to tune to a particular broadcast video channel, (c) commands said apparatus to tune to a particular broadcast audio channel.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said application software comprises at least one of, (a) an HTML or SGML file, (b) a Java™ file, (c) an ActiveX™ file, (d) a web browser and (e) a decoder supported software language file.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said directory lists a file associated with at least one of (a) a broadcast program, (b) a broadcast channel, (c) User interface controls, and (d) a peripheral device attached to said apparatus.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said ancillary information includes an object file complexity level indicator, and said apparatus disregards object files of complexity level exceeding a predetermined level.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.