Method and apparatus for communicating different categories of data in a

Abstract

A system for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream generates program data, receiver control data, and program specific tag data for insertion into a single data stream. Program data is combined with receiver control data to form data groups. Headers are generated containing tag data. Each successive header is combined with a plurality of data groups to form a plurality of units. The data stream is constructed by joining successive units for transmission. A receiver for receiving the data stream detects the receiver control data and the tag data, and recovers the program data in response thereto. A program is reproduced from the recovered program data. The system runs off a master clock having a fixed frequency. Program data is sampled at a first rate that is a function of the master clock frequency. The receiver control data is sampled at a second rate that is a function of the first sampling rate. The tag data is sampled at a third rate that is a function of the second sampling rate. Preferably, the first sampling rate will be an integer factor of the master clock frequency, the second sampling rate will be an integer factor of the first rate and the third sampling rate will be an integer factor of the second rate.