Method and system for acquiring and converting electronic programming guide signals from multiple vendors

1. A method comprising:

providing a first channel map to a first set-top box (STB) via a network, the first channel map comprising set of source identifications (IDs) associated with first EPG signals of a first EPG vendor, wherein a second set of source IDs are associated with second EPG signals of a second EPG vendor, the second set of source IDs being different from the first set of source IDs; and

providing a conversion table to the first STB, the conversion table including the second set of source IDs for acquiring the second EPG signals provided by the second EPG vendor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first channel map comprises a non-content portion identifying a first signaling channel.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising communicating a signal via the first signaling channel to instruct the first STB to use the second set of source IDs for acquiring the second EPG signals from the second EPG vendor.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing a second channel map to a second STB, the second channel map including the first set of source IDs for acquiring the first EPG signals provided by the first EPG vendor.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising including a second non content portion in the second channel map identifying a second signaling channel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second channel maps comprise a content portion associating content channels with call signs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the call signs of each channel map are associated with the same source IDs in the first set of source IDs.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of the call signs in the first channel map are associated with content channels that are different from the content channels for the same call signs in the second channel map.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising configuring the conversion table to include a first portion that associates the content channels of the first channel map with the second set of source IDs and a second portion that associates the content channels of the second channel map with the second set of source IDs.

10. A method to acquire electronic programming guide (EPG) signals, the method comprising:

providing a first channel map to a first set-top box (STB) over a network, the first channel map comprising a content portion identifying a plurality of content channels available over the network to the first STB and a first set of source identifications (IDs) associated with the content channels for use by the first STB in acquiring first EPG signals from a first EPG vendor, the first channel map further comprising a non content portion identifying a first signaling channel;

providing a conversion table to the first STB, the conversion table comprising a second set of source IDs associated with the content channels in the first channel map the second set of source IDs being useable to acquire second EPG signals from a second EPG vendor; and

communicating a signal on the first signaling channel instructing the first STB to use the second set of source IDs instead of the first set of source IDs.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a second channel map to a second STB, the second channel map including a second content portion identifying a plurality of content channels available over the cable network to the second STB and the first set of source IDs associated with the content channels for use by the second STB in acquiring the first EPG signals, the second channel map further including a second non content portion identifying a second signaling channel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the conversion table to the second STB communicating a signal on the second signaling channel instructing the second STB to use the second set of source IDs. instead of the first set of source IDs. to acquire the second EPG signals.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the content channels of the second channel map are different from the content channels of the first channel map.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein call signs are associated with each content channel in each channel map.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the call signs in each channel map are associated with the same source ID in the first set of source IDs.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the call signs in the first channel map are associated with content channels that are different from the content channels for the same call signs in the second channel map.

17. A method comprising:

providing a conversion table from a first electronic programming guide (EPG) vendor to a set-top box (STB) via a network, the conversion table comprising a first set of source identifications (IDs) associated with at least a portion of a plurality of channels in a channel map, the first set of source IDs being usable for acquiring first EPG signals from the first EPG vendor and the channel map associating the plurafty of channels with a second set of source IDs for acquiring second EPG signals from a second EPG vendor; and

communicating a signal on a signaling channel instructing the STB to use the first set of source IDs, instead of the second set of source IDs, for acquiring the first EPG signals from the first EPG vendor.

18. A method comprising:

receiving a channel map at a set-top box (STB), the channel map identifying a signaling channel and associating a first set of source identifications (IDs) with a plurality of content channels, the first set of source IDs being useable for acquiring first EPG signals from a first EPG vendor;

receiving a conversion table at the STB, the conversion table comprising a second set of source IDs associated with the content channels in the channel map, the second set of source IDs being useable for acquiring second EPG signals from a second EPG vendor;

receiving a signal on the signaling channel instructing the STB to use the second set of source IDs instead of the first set of source IDs; and

retrieving the second EPG signals from the second EPG vendor using the second set of source IDs.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the conversion table is received from the second EPG vendor.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the conversion table is received from a headend controller.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal on the signaling channel is received from the second EPG vendor.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the signal on the signaling channel is received from a headend controller.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the first set of source IDs are different from the second set of source IDs.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising retrieving the first EPG signals from the first EPG vendor using the first set of source IDs.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and storing application instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to:

receive a channel map identifying a signaling channel and associating a first set of source identifications (IDs) with a plurality of content channels, the first set of source IDs being useable for acquiring first EPG signals from a first EPG vendor;

receive a conversion table comprising a second set of source IDs associated with the content channels in the channel map, the second set of source IDs being useable for acquiring second EPG signals from a second EPG vendor;

receive a signal on the signaling channel instructing use of the second set of source IDs instead of the first set of source IDs; and

retrieve the second EPG signals from the second EPG vendor using the second set of source IDs.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is communicatively coupled to a media output device and wherein the apparatus causes presentation of the second EPG signals at the media output device.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is communicatively coupled to a media output device and wherein the apparatus causes presentation of one of the plurality of content channels at the media output device.