Program specific information formation for digital data processing

摘要

Program specific information (PSI) is formed suitable for use in recovering data content of a program in the form of a packetized datastream. Packet identifiers (PIDs) that identify individual packetized datastreams constituting the program are renumbered and corresponding packetized datastreams that constitute different programs are given the same PID. A program map table (PMT) is created that associates the renumbered PIDs with the individual packetized datastreams constituting the program. A program association table (PAT) is also created for associating the program with PIDs that identify packets comprising the PMT. A parameter may be employed within the PSI to indicate that the PSI is to be applied in subsequent processing of the program irrespective of a substantive difference between the PSI and previous PSI content. In addition, the PSI may incorporate a version number that is varied between successive occurrences of the PSI irrespective of substantive change in PSI content. One or more private data elements may also be included in the PMT to describe the program.