Xlet-based, IESG(Integrated Electronic Service Guide) in ATSC-ACAP

This paper describes the outline of Integrated Electronic Service Guide(IESG) system and service. IESG service is designed to compose Electronic Program Guide(EPG), interactive TV service information such as TV portal service and genre information in ATSCACAP( Advanced Television System Committee -Advanced Common Application Platform). ACAP is a Java based data broadcasting standard for interactive TV service through digital TV set-top boxes. To make it possible, broadcasters have to transmit program scheduling information and interactive TV service information. However, terrestrial broadcasters adopting ATSC standard transmit only their own program guides, not those of other broadcasters because of lack of bandwidth and other business issues. This paper suggests an effective way of IESG service implementation in which, based on ACAP, PSIP standard is used to display a broadcaster's own channel program guide, and Return Channel is used for the program guide , genre information and interactive TV service of other broadcasters.