Packet demultiplexing of a mac/packet broadcast signal

A packet demultiplexing device for demultiplexing an incoming signal comprising successive bursts of digital data distributed into packets, each packet consisting of:

• useful data, and
• a header having a channel number indicating one of a plurality of service components to which said packet
• is assigned, additional information and a header error protection code,
• comprising:
• an output interface having a plurality of data outputs, and
• a plurality of packet extraction units, each having:
• (a) circuit means for generating all error-free configurations of a selected one of said channel numbers corresponding to a respective one of said service components and any possible form of said additional information;
• (b) encoding means for encoding all of said error-free configurations into all possible theoretical header configurations having said error protection code;
• (c) means for computing the Hamming distances between each packet header in said incoming signal and all said possible theoretical header configurations;
• and
• (d) means for directing those packets for which the Hamming distance is not greater than a predetermined value to said output interface;
• said circuit means in separate ones of said extraction units being arranged for generating the configurations of different ones of said channel numbers and said output interface being arranged for directing the packets to different dedicated outputs depending upon which one of said extraction circuits directed the packet to the output interface;
• whereby those packets which are assigned to a predetermined service component are extracted and delivered on a respective output.

The packet demultiplexing device for demultiplexing an incoming MAC/PACKET signal comprising successive bursts of digital data distributed into packets, each packet consisting of:

• useful data, and
• a header having a channel number indicating one of a plurality of service components to which said packet is assigned, a continuity index and a header error protection code,
• comprising:
• (a) circuit means for generating all error-free configurations consisting of a selected one of said channel numbers corresponding to a respective one of said service components and any possible value of said continuity index;
• (b) encoding means for encoding all of said error-free configurations into all possible theoretical header configurations having said error protection code;
• (c) means for computing the Hamming distances between each packet header in said incoming signal and all said possible theoretical header configuration;
• and
• (d) means for directing those packets for which the Hamming distance is not greater than a predetermined value to an output interface;
• whereby those packets which are assigned to a predetermined service component are extracted and delivered on a respective output.