Flexible filtering

A set-top-box including a receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for directly receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal, wherein in a second mode of operation the first control circuit, responsive to the first type control signal, receives at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry, and outputs such to the third control circuit for determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting the match signal to the first control circuit, responsive to a match, wherein the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data responsive to the match signal.

A method of demultiplexing a digital data stream input to a receiver, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the digital data stream;
• extracting, under the control of a first control circuit, a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream;
• generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• storing in a memory, under the control of a second control circuit, sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• in a first mode of operation responsive to the first type control signal,
• determining, under the control of a third control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet directly received by the third control circuit from the input circuitry matches one of the stored sets of information;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the third control circuit, the input data packet responsive to the match signal;
• and
• in a second mode of operation, determining responsive to the first type control signal, under the control of the first control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet matches the sets of information stored in the memory;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the first control circuit, the input data packet responsive to the match signal.

A receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for directly receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal, wherein
• responsive to the second type control signal the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet.

A method of demultiplexing a digital data stream input to a receiver, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the digital data stream;
• extracting, under the control of a first control circuit, a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream;
• generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• storing in a memory, under the control of a second control circuit, sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• in a first mode of operation responsive to the first type control signal determining, under the control of a third control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet received by the third control circuit directly from the input circuitry matches one of the stored sets of information;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the third control circuit, the input data packet responsive to the match signal, and in a further mode of operation
• demultiplexing the input data packet under the control of the first control circuit responsive to the second type control signal.

A receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal without storing the input data packet in a separate memory, wherein in a second mode of operation the first control circuit, responsive to the first type control signal, receives at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry, and outputs such to the third control circuit for determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting the match signal to the first control circuit, responsive to a match, wherein the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data responsive to the match signal.

A set-top-box including a receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry, and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal without storing the input data packet in a separate memory, wherein in a second mode of operation the first control circuit, responsive to the first type control signal, receives at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry, and outputs such to the third control circuit for determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting the match signal to the first control circuit, responsive to a match, wherein the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data responsive to the match signal.

A method of demultiplexing a digital data stream input to a receiver, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the digital data stream;
• extracting, under the control of a first control circuit, a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream;
• generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• storing in a memory, under the control of a second control circuit, sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• in a first mode of operation responsive to the first type control signal,
• determining, under the control of a third control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet received by the third control circuit from the input circuitry, matches one of the stored sets of information;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the third control circuit and without intermediate storage in a memory, the input data packet responsive to the match signal;
• and
• in a second mode of operation,
• determining responsive to the first type control signal, under the control of the first control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet matches the sets of information stored in the memory;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the first control circuit, the input data packet responsive to the match signal.

A receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal without intermediate storage of the data packet in a memory, wherein
• in a second mode of operation the first control circuit, responsive to the first type control signal, receives at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry, and outputs such to the third control circuit for determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting the match signal to the first control circuit responsive to a match, wherein the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data responsive to the match signal.

A receiver for demultiplexing a digital data stream, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier indicative of the type, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the receiver comprising:

• input circuitry for receiving the digital data stream;
• a first control circuit for extracting a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream, and generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• a memory for storing sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• a second control circuit for controlling the storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a third control circuit responsive to the first type control signal in a first mode of operation for receiving at least part of the input data packet from the input circuitry and determining whether such part matches one of the stored sets of information, and for setting a match signal, wherein the third control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet responsive to the match signal without intermediate storage of the input data packet in a memory, wherein
• responsive to the second type control signal the first control circuit demultiplexes the input data packet.

A method of demultiplexing a digital data stream input to a receiver, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the digital data stream;
• extracting, under the control of a first control circuit, a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream;
• generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• storing in a memory, under the control of a second control circuit, sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• in a first mode of operation responsive to the first type control signal determining, under the control of a third control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet received by the third control circuit from the input circuitry matches one of the stored sets of information;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the third control circuit and without intermediate storage in a memory, the input data packet responsive to the match signal, and
• in a second mode of operation determining responsive to the first type control signal, under the control of the first control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet matches the sets of information stored in the memory;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the first control circuit, the input data packet responsive to the match signal.

A method of demultiplexing a digital data stream input to a receiver, the digital data stream including at least two types of data packets each having a packet identifier, so as to retain only those data packets required by the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

• inputting the digital data stream;
• extracting, under the control of a first control circuit, a packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream;
• generating a first or a second type control signal in dependence on whether the input data packet is of a first or a second type;
• storing in a memory, under the control of a second control circuit, sets of information associated with those first types of data packet required by the receiver;
• in a first mode of operation responsive to the first type control signal determining, under the control of a third control circuit, whether at least part of the input data packet received by the third control circuit from the input circuitry matches one of the stored sets of information;
• setting a match signal responsive to a match determined by the third control circuit;
• and
• demultiplexing, under the control of the third control circuit and without intermediate storage in a memory, the input data packet responsive to the match signal, and in a further mode of operation
• demultiplexing the input data packet under the control of the first control circuit responsive to the second type control signal.

A receiver, comprising:

• an input module configured to receive a digital data stream including at least two types of data packets, each type having a packet identifier indicative of the type;
• a transport controller configured to extract the packet identifier from an input data packet in the digital data stream and to determine a type of the input data packet;
• a memory configured to store sets of information associated with data packets of a first type of input data packet;
• a memory controller configured to control storage in the memory of the sets of information;
• and
• a section filter configured to selectively determine whether a portion of the input data packet matches one of the stored sets of information, wherein,
• in a first mode of operation, the section filter is configured to receive the portion of the input data packet from the input module and to respond to a match by demultiplexing the input data packet when the input data packet is of the first type;
• and
• in a second mode of operation, the section filter is configured to receive the portion of the input data packet from the transport controller and the transport controller is configured to respond to a match by demultiplexing the input data circuit when the input data packet is of the first type.