Error Concealment for MPEG Decoding with Personal Video Recording Functionality

A Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) error concealment system, comprising:

• an MPEG transport processor 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;
• and
• an MPEG decoder coupled to the MPEG transport processor, wherein, when a discontinuity of a programmed clock reference time base occurs, the MPEG decoder conceals the error during layback by updating a video system time clock and an audio system time clock with a presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream;
• and
• when a mismatch between a presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream and a video system time clock occurs, the MPEG video decoder produces a category type of the transport 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 against a predetermined threshold.

The MPEG error concealment system of claim 16, wherein MPEG video decoder identifies the error contained within the MPEG transport stream by comparing a difference between a presentation time stamp of the MPEG transport stream and a video system time clock to the predetermined threshold and at least one additional predetermined threshold;

• the category error type includes at least one of:
• the presentation time stamp not yet being mature;
• the presentation time stamp being very far in the future;
• a current picture within the MPEG transport stream being slightly old, and
• the current picture within the MPEG transport stream being extremely old;
• and
• the MPEG video decoder decodes the current picture within the MPEG transport stream when the category error type includes the current picture within the MPEG transport stream being extremely old.

A Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) data transport error handling method, executable by an MPEG data transport processor, performed during live decoding, comprising:

• synchronizing each MPEG transport stream packet within an MPEG transport stream by a synchronization signal, the MPEG transport stream includes 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.