Abstract: A redundant remultiplexer includes two media control modules, wherein, if the primary module operates in an input mode, the backup module performs the same processing of packets as the primary module but only transmits processed packets to a switch if the primary module fails, and wherein, if the primary module is operating in an output mode, the backup module performs the same processing as the primary output module on the same sequence of packets received from the switch, but the backup module only outputs the processed packets if the primary module fails.

Abstract: A redundant remultiplexer is described which is capable of remultiplexing fixed length transport stream packets. Illustratively, at least some of the packets contain program data, i.e., data with a sensitive delivery schedule, such as variably compressed audio-video data. An example of such variably compressed data is MPEG-2 encoded video. The redundant remultiplexer has a chassis architecture with input modules that receive externally originating transport packets, output modules that output externally selected transport stream packets and switch modules. The switch modules perform a packet switch function, i.e., they switch selected packet received by the input modules to respective output modules on a packet by packet basis, e.g., based on address information in each respective switched packet. The switch modules can also receive externally supplied packets and output externally respective packets.