Error concealment for MPEG decoding with personal video recording functionality

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) error concealment system, comprising:

• an MPEG transport processor;
• and
• an MPEG decoder, communicatively coupled to the MPEG transport processor;
• wherein the MPEG transport processor is operable to receive an MPEG transport stream and is also operable to identify a transport error within an MPEG transport stream layer of the MPEG transport stream;
• in response to a discontinuity of a programmed clock reference time base, the MPEG decoder conceals the error during layback by automatically updating a video system time clock and an audio system time clock with a presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream;
• and
• in response to a mismatch between the presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream and a video system time clock, the MPEG video decoder categorizes a type of the error contained within the MPEG transport stream by comparing a difference between the presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream and a video system time clock to a predetermined threshold.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) data transport error handling method performed during live decoding, comprising:

• synchronizing each MPEG transport stream packet within an MPEG transport stream by a synchronization signal, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• determining whether a transport error indicator bit is set that corresponds to at least one of the MPEG transport stream packets;
• discarding an MPEG transport stream packet when the transport error indicator is set;
• detecting a continuity error mismatch between at least two MPEG transport stream packets;
• generating an interrupt when the continuity error mismatch is detected;
• detecting a duplicate MPEG transport stream packet within the plurality of transport stream packets;
• and
• dropping the duplicate MPEG transport stream from the MPEG transport stream.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) data transport error handling method performed during playback decoding, comprising:

• performing soft synchronization of each MPEG transport stream packet within an MPEG transport stream by a searching from two bytes of a predetermined length that are a predetermined distance apart within the MPEG transport stream;
• determining whether a transport error indicator bit is set that corresponds to at least one of the MPEG transport stream packets;
• discarding an MPEG transport stream packet when the transport error indicator is set;
• detecting a continuity error mismatch between at least two MPEG transport stream packets;
• generating an interrupt when the continuity error mismatch is detected;
• detecting a duplicate MPEG transport stream packet within the plurality of transport stream packets;
• and
• dropping the duplicate MPEG transport stream from the MPEG transport stream.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) video transport error handling method performed during live decoding, comprising:

• receiving an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• determining whether a transport error indicator bit is set that corresponds to at least one of the MPEG transport stream packets;
• discarding the at least one of the MPEG transport stream packets when the transport error indicator bit is set;
• detecting a discontinuity in a continuity counter;
• marking an error flag for a MPEG video transport decoder to perform a predetermined function when the discontinuity in the continuity counter is detected;
• determining whether a compressed data buffer is full;
• marking the error flag to indicate a server error when the compressed data buffer is full;
• loading a watchdog timer with a value at a start of each MPEG transport stream packet within the MPEG transport stream;
• counting the watchdog timer down to zero;
• determining when processing an MPEG transport stream packet takes longer than a predetermined period of time;
• trigger the watchdog when the processing of the MPEG transport stream packet takes longer than the predetermined period of time thereby notifying a host processor;
• generating an interrupt when a compressed video buffer does not yet contain an entire decodable MPEG picture;
• determining if a scrambling control bit that correspond to an MPEG transport stream packet is set;
• and
• discarding the MPEG transport stream packet when the scrambling control bit is set.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) audio transport error handling method performed during live decoding, comprising:

• detecting an error in an MPEG audio packet within an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• searching a next MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream when the error is detected in the MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream;
• discarding the MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream that includes the error when the error is detected in the MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream;
• discarding an audio buffer when more than one error is detected in the MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream;
• and
• reacquiring MPEG audio data when the error is detected in the MPEG audio packet within the MPEG transport stream.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) video decoder error handling method for picture and upper layer errors, comprising:

• performing a decoding process action that comprises:
• waiting for a new decode synchronization signal within an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• and
• recovering decoding from the new decode synchronization signal;
• performing a presentation process action that comprises:
• displaying a previous picture in place of a current picture, the previous picture in place of a current picture being extracted from the MPEG transport stream.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) video decoder error handling method for slice and lower layer errors, comprising:

• performing a decoding process action that comprises:
• copying a remainder of a slice from a previous anchor frame, the previous anchor frame being extracted from an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• skipping to a next start code within a parser;
• determining whether the next start code within the parser comprises a header;
• recovering decoding of the MPEG transport stream from a new slice header when the next start code within the parser comprises a header;
• determining whether the next start code within the parser comprises a picture of a start code of an upper layer;
• waiting for a new decode synchronization signal when the next start code within the parser comprises the picture of the start code of the upper layer;
• and
• recovering decoding from the new decode synchronization signal when the next start code within the parser comprises the picture of the start code of the upper layer;
• and performing a presentation process action that comprises:
• displaying an error concealed picture;
• and
• performing video hold.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) video decoding method, comprising:

• determining whether live decoding is to be performed on an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• enabling prediction from a black frame with the MPEG transport stream when live decoding is to be performed;
• determining whether live playback is to be performed on the MPEG transport stream;
• muting video of the MPEG transport stream when live playback is to be performed and until a completely refreshed picture has been decoded;
• detecting a sequence error code corresponding to an MPEG transport stream packet within the MPEG transport stream;
• enabling video hold when the sequence error code has been detected;
• muting video of the MPEG transport stream when sequence error code has been detected and after an end sequence code within the MPEG transport stream has been encountered;
• waiting for a new decode synchronization signal;
• and
• recovering decoding from the new decode synchronization signal.

A motion picture expert group (MPEG) error concealment method, comprising:

• detecting an error within a data segment situated between two slice headers of an MPEG transport stream, the MPEG transport stream comprising a plurality of MPEG transport stream packets;
• assuming the data segment is in error when the error is detected;
• and
• categorizing the error type;
• and
• wherein the error type is categorized as being an error type selected from a plurality of predetermined error types.