Method and apparatus for analyzing digital multi-program transmission packet streams

摘要

A method and device for monitoring a multiplexed data stream (38). The data stream preferably contains digital packets (50) multiplexed from different data and control channels. A service information channel or program guide is available from the data stream (38) to identify the all the various channels and the associated packets in the data stream. The packet monitor verifies the program guide and the contents of the program guide against the packets (50) found in the packet stream (38). The semantics and sequencing of packets (50) can also be verified. Errors can be recorded and displayed via an interface computer (70).