Processing system with electronic program guide authoring and methods for use therewith

1. A processing system comprising:

a memory module that stores an electronic program guide (EPG) authoring application;

a processing module of a client device, coupled to the memory module, the processing module including at least one embedded processor that executes the EPG authoring application that includes a graphical user interface that responds to input from an end user and that creates EPG configuration data to configure an EPG application of the client device associated with the end user, wherein the EPG authoring application includes selection of a video preview pane and placement of the video preview pane on a display screen of the EPG application; and

an interface module, coupled to the processing module, that sends the EPG configuration data to an EPG server associated with a video distribution network, that sends EPG commands to the EPG server and that receives EPG data from the video distribution network that is based on the EPG configuration data and the EPG commands, and that receives at least one video signal from the video distribution network;

wherein the EPG server includes a rendering engine that generates EPG images based on the configuration data, the EPG commands and further based on EPG schedule data, wherein the EPG server includes a transcoder that transcodes a selected video signal to a reduced resolution for display in the video preview pane.

2. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the memory module further stores the EPG application and the processing module selectively executes the EPG application that generates the EPG commands in response to the end user's interaction with the EPG application.

3. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the EPG configuration data includes a screen resolution of the client device.

4. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the EPG authoring application includes selection of an advertising pane and placement of the advertising pane on a display screen of the EPG application.

5. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the EPG authoring application includes a grid tool for configuring a program schedule grid on a display screen of the EPG application.

6. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the EPG authoring application includes at least one of:

an art tool for inserting a graphical item on a display screen of the EPG application;

a line tool for adding lines on the display screen of the EPG application;

a fill tool for coloring regions on the display screen of the EPG application;

a sound tool for selecting sounds generated by the EPG application;

a text tool for adding text to the display screen of the EPG application; and

a clock insertion to for selecting and placing a clock icon on the display screen of the EPG application.

7. A method for use in an electronic program guide (EPG) authoring application comprising:

executing a graphical user interface that receives input data from an end user; and

creating EPG configuration data, in response to the input data, to configure an EPG application of a client device associated with the end user by:

sending the EPG configuration data to an EPG server associated with a video distribution network wherein the EPG configuration data indicates selection of a video preview pane and placement of the video preview pane on a display screen of the EPG application;

executing an EPG application that generates EPG commands in response to the end user's interaction with the EPG application;

sending the EPG commands to the EPG server; and

receiving EPG data from the video distribution network includes EPG images that are rendered by the EPG server based on the EPG configuration data and the EPG commands wherein the EPG server includes a transcoder that transcodes a selected video signal to a reduced resolution for display in the video preview pane.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the EPG configuration data includes a screen resolution of the client device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

selecting an advertising pane in response to the input data; and

placing the advertising pane on a display screen of the EPG application in response to the input data.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

configuring a program schedule grid on a display screen of the EPG application in response to the input data.