METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING METADATA INTO A DIGITAL PROGRAM STREAM

摘要

A method and apparatus for encoding data into a digital program stream includes receiving a digital program stream having a pre-allocated data channel, where the pre-allocated data channel has a pre-defined bandwidth. In one embodiment, metadata may be received and an unused portion of the pre-defined bandwidth of the pre-allocated channel may be determined. In another embodiment, metadata may be encoded into the unused portion of the pre- defined bandwidth.