Patent ID: 7280566

Claim:
A multi-format transport stream decoder being supplied with at least one of first transport streams formed by successive pieces of first packet data each generated based on one of a plurality of predetermined formats and provided with packet data identification information for identification, the decoder selectively performing a process desired by a user on the pieces of first packet data to generate a second transport stream, the decoder comprising: packet data process sequence storing means which stores at least one process sequence defined in advance for the respective pieces of first packet data; process request information input means which inputs process request information indicative of a piece of said first packet data on which the process desired by the user is to be performed and a piece of a plurality of said process sequences that corresponds to the desired process; transport stream identification information providing means which provides transport stream identification information indicative of the format defined for the first transport stream; packet data retaining and identifying means which individually and sequentially retains the pieces of first packet data and extracts the transport stream identification information and the packet data identification information from the retained pieces of first packet data; and data filtering means for process target packet data, the data filtering means comparing the extracted transport stream identification information and packet data identification information with the process request information, and generating a process target decision signal indicative of whether a piece of the retained pieces of first packet data is a target of the desired process.