Method and apparatus for searching recorded digital data streams using packet arrival time information

An apparatus for searching recorded digital data streams, comprising:

• a data reproducer for retrieve search time information containing count values counted at constant time intervals while each stream object unit having a predetermined number of transport stream units is recorded and to access to reproduce a stream object unit containing requested search time with reference to the retrieved search time information;
• and
• a controller to compare an arrival time reference information added to a start transport stream unit of the stream object unit accessed by said data reproducer with a time value calculated from the search time information corresponding to the accessed stream object unit, and to compensate an arrival time of the start transport stream unit determined by using the arrival time reference information and the time value, based upon the comparison result, wherein said controller compares the arrival time reference information with a part of the time value calculated from the search time information corresponding to the stream object unit, judges whether the arrival time reference information added to each transport stream unit has been reset between the start time of the accessed stream object unit and the time calculated from the search time information corresponding to the stream object unit accessed by said data reproducer based upon the comparison result, and corrects the determined arrival time by subtracting a predetermined value from the determined arrival time.