APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPARENT DATA COLLECTION FROM A NETWORK FOR ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE-LIKE APPLICATIONS

摘要

A method and apparatus for transparent data collection from a network forelectronic program guide-like applications is provided. The method includesthedetection of a file system command issued by an application program. Oncedetected, ifthe detected command requests broadcast object carousel data, the methodcollects therequested broadcast object carousel data from a network. Once collected, thebroadcastobject carousel data may be provided to the application program to providetransparentcollection of broadcast object carousel data. To provide transparentcollection ofbroadcast object carousel data, in one embodiment a client driver is installedunder anoperating system within an input/output (I/O) system layer. The client drivermay bemounted in a mount point to register standard file system operation functioncalls forcollecting broadcast object carousel program guide data. Other embodiments aredescribed and claimed.