Data stream selection/output apparatus and control program for achieving the apparatus

A data stream selection/output apparatus that selects a data stream out of a plurality of data streams each of which is composed of sequentially obtained data, and outputs the selected data stream, the data stream selection/output apparatus comprising:

• a timing information obtaining unit operable to obtain timing information that indicates a time at which a first transport stream being output is switched to a second transport stream;
• and
• a selection/output unit operable to stop outputting the first transport stream at the time indicated by the timing information, then output a transport stream packet containing a discontinuity indicator set to “1”, and then start outputting the second data stream.

A control program that causes an apparatus with a CPU to perform a data stream selection/output process in which a data stream is selected out of a plurality of data streams each of which is composed of sequentially obtained data, and the selected data stream is output, the data stream selection/output process comprising:

• a timing information obtaining step for obtaining timing information that indicates a time at which a first transport stream being output is switched to a second transport stream;
• and
• a selection/output step for stopping outputting the first transport stream at the time indicated by the timing information, then outputting a transport stream packet containing a discontinuity indicator set to “1”, and then starting outputting the second data stream.

A computer-readable recording medium in which a control program is recorded, the control program causing an apparatus with a CPU to perform a data stream selection/output process in which a data stream is selected out of a plurality of data streams each of which is composed of sequentially obtained data, and the selected data stream is output, the data stream selection/output process comprising:

• a timing information obtaining step for obtaining timing information that indicates a time at which a first transport stream being output is switched to a second transport stream;
• and
• a selection/output step for stopping outputting the first transport stream at the time indicated by the timing information, then outputting a transport stream packet containing a discontinuity indicator set to “1”, and then starting outputting the second data stream.

A data stream selection/output method that selects a data stream out of a plurality of data streams each of which is composed of sequentially obtained data, and outputs the selected data stream, the data stream selection/output method comprising:

• a timing information obtaining step for obtaining timing information that indicates a time at which a first transport stream being output is switched to a second transport stream;
• and
• a selection/output step for stopping outputting the first transport stream at the time indicated by the timing information, then outputting a transport stream packet containing a discontinuity indicator set to “1”, and then starting outputting the second data stream.

A data stream selection/output apparatus that selects a data stream from a plurality of data streams, each of which can include sequentially obtained compressed image data and outputs the selected data stream as broadcast data which can be received and verified as a complete section of a broadcast program, comprising:

• a detecting unit for scanning a first data stream having a plurality of data blocks from the plurality of data streams and scanning a second data stream having a plurality of data blocks from the plurality of data streams and detecting a first boundary between the data blocks of the first data stream to define a complete section of a first broadcast program and detecting a second boundary between the data blocks of the second data stream to define a complete section of a second broadcast program;
• and
• a selection/output unit for stopping the outputting of the first data stream at the detected first block boundary and starting the outputting of the second data stream at the detected second block boundary.