Video and graphics system with a data transport processor

A transport processor for receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams, the transport processor comprising:

• a descrambler for decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• a PCR recovery module for extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams and for providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• and
• a transport recorder for storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory, and a playback circuit for reading the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory,
• wherein the PCR recovery module has a direct load capability for receiving user defined PCRs and outputting them instead of outputting the extracted PCRs,
• wherein the PCR recovery module includes a PCR circuitry for constructing the user defined PCRs from PTS in the compressed data streams, and wherein the user defined PCRs provide clock reference to the stored portion of the compressed data streams.

A transport processor for receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams, the transport processor comprising:

• a descrambler for decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• a PCR recovery module for extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams and for providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• and
• a transport recorder for storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory, and a playback circuit for reading the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory,
• wherein the PCR recovery module has a direct load capability for receiving user defined PCRs and outputting them instead of outputting the extracted PCRs,
• wherein the playback circuit includes a throttling mechanism for limiting a maximum rate at which the stored portion of the compressed data streams is played back.

A transport processor for receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams, the transport processor comprising:

• a descrambler for decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• a PCR recovery module for extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams and for providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• and
• a transport recorder for storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory, and a playback circuit for reading the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory,
• wherein the PCR recovery module has a direct load capability for receiving user defined PCRs and outputting them instead of outputting the extracted PCRs,
• wherein the playback circuit includes a hold mechanism for halting the stored portion of the compressed data streams from being played back.

A method of receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams using a transport processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams;
• and
• providing the extracted PCRs as an output,
• wherein the transport processor has a capability of outputting user defined PCRs instead of the extracted PCRs,
• wherein the step of providing the extracted PCRs as an output comprises the step of providing the extracted PCRs to downstream devices including at least one of a first satellite transport processor and a second satellite transport processor.

A method of receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams using a transport processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams;
• providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory;
• playing back the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory;
• and
• constructing the user defined PCRs from PTS in the compressed data streams,
• wherein the transport processor has a capability of outputting user defined PCRs instead of the extracted PCRs,
• wherein the user defined PCRs provide clock reference to the stored portion of the compressed data streams.

A method of receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams using a transport processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams;
• providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory;
• playing back the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory;
• and
• limiting a maximum rate at which the stored portion of the compressed data streams is played back,
• wherein the transport processor has a capability of outputting user defined PCRs instead of the extracted PCRs.

A method of receiving and processing a plurality of compressed data streams using a transport processor, the method comprising the steps of:

• decrypting one or more compressed data streams when the one or more compressed data streams have been encrypted;
• extracting PCRs contained in the compressed data streams;
• providing the extracted PCRs as an output;
• storing at least a portion of the compressed data streams in a memory;
• playing back the stored portion of the compressed data streams from the memory;
• and
• halting the playback of the stored portion of the compressed data streams,
• wherein the transport processor has a capability of outputting user defined PCRs instead of the extracted PCRs.