Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) is the
Function
PSIP defines
PSIP can also send:
- the exact GPS time;
- the short name, which some stations use to publish their callsign. A maximum of seven characters can be used in a short name.
PSIP is defined in ATSC standard A/65, the most recent revision of which is A/65:2013, published in 2013.[1] A/69 is a recommended practice for implementing PSIP in a television station.[2]
PSIP also supersedes the A/55 and A/56 protocol methods of delivering program guide information (which the ATSC has deleted).
PSIP information may be passed through the airchain using proprietary protocols or through use of the Programming Metadata Communication Protocol metadata scheme.
Programming Metadata Communication Protocol
PMCP, defined in the Advanced Television Systems Committee's A/76B,[3] provides ATSC broadcasters with a standardized means to exchange system information (SI) among systems that create and manage these data elements. These systems can be outside Program listing services, program management systems, traffic (commercial and program scheduling) and broadcast automation systems, which all contribute a portion of the PSIP data to a PSIP Generator.
At the heart of PMCP is an XML Schema (actually a collection of XML Schema Definition files), which provide a standardized structure into which PSI and PSIP-related data may be exchanged. PMCP does not dictate systems' internal database structures; it is simply a platform-independent protocol for the exchange of data.[4]
PMCP was first published as A/76 in November 2004,
Included tables
- System Time Table (STT)[a]
- Current time, transmitted at least once per second, with an accuracy of new time values within 1 second or better.
- Master Guide Table (MGT)[a]
- Data pointersto other PSIP tables.
- Terrestrial Virtual Channel Table (TVCT)[a]
- Defines each virtual channel and enables EITs to be associated with the channel.
- Cable Virtual Channel Table (CVCT)
- Assigns numbers to each virtual channel and enables EITs to be associated with the channel.
- Rating Region Table (RRT)
- Content ratings for each country (region) covered by the station, save the U.S., as that region is loaded into television sets already.
- Event Information Table (EIT)[a]
- Titles and program guide data.
- Extended Text Table (ETT)
-
- Channel Extended Text Table (CETT)
- Detailed descriptions of channels.
- Event Extended Text Table (EETT)
- Detailed descriptions of aired events.
- Directed Channel Change Table (DCCT)
- The DCC function lets broadcasters tell a digital television receiver where to change, based upon the viewer's settings. This is most likely to be a weather bulletins, possibly taken from an accompanying datacastingchannel.
- metro areathan can actually be transmitted at once.
- Directed Channel Change Selection Code Table (DCCSCT)
- Provides for the ability to update states, counties and program genres used in DCCTs.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d Indicates a Federal Communications Commission requirement
References
- ^ Program And System Information Protocol For Terrestrial Broadcast And Cable (ASTC standard). Advanced Television Systems Committee. 7 August 2013. A/65:2013.
- ^ Program and System Information Protocol Implementation Guidelines for Broadcasters (ATSC recommended practice). Advanced Television Systems Committee. 25 December 2009. A/69.
- ^ Programming Metadata Communication Protocol Standard, Revision B (ASTC standard). Advanced Television Systems Committee. 14 January 2008. A/76B.
- ^ Whitaker, Jerry (10 March 2004). "Making PSIP Work for Broadcasters". TV Technology. NewBay Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- ^ Hester, Lisa (18 November 2004). "New ATSC PMCP Standard Powers PSIP" (Press release). Washington, DC: Advanced Television Systems Committee. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
External links
- "Table Sections [ASTC Syntax]". EtherGuide Systems. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016.