Methods and apparatus for improved program acquisition for use with MPEG-2 based systems

摘要

Methods and apparatus for improved program acquisition for use with MPEG-2 based systems. In an aspect, a method includes receiving a program association table (PAT) associated with an MPEG-2 transport stream, and identifying program map tables (PMTs) included in the PAT. The method also includes caching the PMTs, receiving a request to present a program, determining if a PMT associated with the program has been cached, and acquiring the selected program using information from the cached PMT. An apparatus includes means for receiving a PAT associated with an MPEG-2 transport stream and means for identifying PMTs included in the PAT. The apparatus also includes means for caching the PMTs, means for receiving a request to present a program, means for determining if a PMT associated with the program has been cached, and means for acquiring the selected program using information from the cached PMT.