1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for resolving conflicts between data records, such as those transmitted to a cable television (CATV) system head end, by sorting the data records and removing any conflicting or duplicate data record. More specifically, the method of this invention can be used to assemble a time structured database that resolves conflicts among batches of data windows that different Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data providers transmit to a CATV head end, before the EPG data is transmitted to and processed through a relational database.
2. Description of Prior Art
A head end is an originating point of signals for cable systems, such as cable television (CATV) systems. The head end usually receives signals from different sources or providers. The data format between different signals may or may not be identical. However, the transmitted data records normally contain at least one common data field, such as a service provider identifier field, a start time field of a program and/or a duration field of a program.
Data is typically transmitted to a head end in batch form, usually on a cyclic basis. Such data batches typically include data sets or data windows that span in time from a current date for a set length of time, into the future. Such data windows can be transmitted at any time. Some data windows overlap in time. The data window often represents a snapshot of a provider's database, at a particular time. Quite often, data windows are transmitted to a head end with all information, not just updated information, regardless of whether or not the head end previously received an unchanged portion of the information.
With current technology, an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data file that contains information spanning ten days, for example, can take on average about eight hours to process before transmitting the EPG data file to a cable subscriber. The EPG data files require so much time to process because even though relatively few data records of a data window are updated, all data records of a data window, even duplicate and conflicting data records, are transmitted to conventional processors. There is an apparent need to significantly reduce the processing time.