Systems and methods for mutiplexing mpeg services for ip networks

A method for controlling a scheduling of traffic in a multiplexer comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first plurality of time-related content packets associated with a single transport stream, a subset of said first plurality of packets comprising time-related content comprising a MPEG program clock reference (PCR) data;
• storing said first plurality of time-related content packets in a first buffer;
• receiving a second plurality of untimed content packets at said multiplexer;
• storing said second plurality of untimed content packets in a second buffer;
• receiving a third plurality of periodic table content packets at said multiplexer;
• storing said third plurality of packets in a third buffer;
• executing a scheduling module wherein said scheduling module performs the steps of:
• determining that said first plurality of packets in said first buffer comprise a first PCR data and a second PCR data;
• allocating a respective tag value to each of the first plurality of time-related content packets, the second plurality of untimed content packets, and said third plurality of periodic table content packets;
• selecting a tag having the lowest value from a respective initial packet from the first buffer, the second buffer, and the third buffer;
• transmitting a packet associated with said tag having the lowest value, wherein said packet at the head of its respective buffer;
• updating each remaining respective tag associated with each remaining respective packet of said first, second, and third buffers.

A system for multiplexing time-related content packets, periodic table content packets, and untimed content packets, comprising:

• a first buffer for storing time-related content packets comprising MPEG data, a first time-related content packet comprising a first program clock reference (PCR), and a second time-related content packet comprising a second program clock reference;
• a second buffer storing untimed content packets;
• a third buffer storing periodic table content packets, wherein said periodic table content packets convey one or more of either MPEG Program Specific Information (PSI) data or DVB System Information data;
• a memory for storing a plurality of tag values, said memory further storing a scheduling module for selecting a packet for transmission stored in one of said first buffer, said second buffer, or said third buffer;
• a processor configured to detect an incoming packet to said one of said first buffer, said second buffer, or said third buffer, and executing said scheduling module in response to detecting said incoming packet.