Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for processing and identifying the contents of a partial transport stream. A transport stream is filtered to produce a partial transport stream containing transport stream packets that carry data for a selected program or service. An active packet identifier table (APT) is generated to identify the PIDs of transport stream packets that remain in the partial transport stream. The partial transport stream may then be processed by utilizing information in the APT and service information tables included in the original transport stream.

Abstract: A Common Interface module is releasably connectable to a Common Interface connector of a digital multimedia device and comprises a Common Interface connector including a command interface and a transport stream interface releasably connectable to a corresponding command interface and a transport stream interface, respectively, of the Common Interface connector of the digital multimedia device. The module comprises further an IEEE 1394, link layer circuit connected to the Common Interface connector of said module; an IEEE 1394, physical layer circuit connected to said link layer circuit; and an IEEE 1394, Serial Bus interface connected to said physical layer circuit and releasably connectable to an IEEE 1394, Serial Bus to thereby enable said digital multimedia device to transmit a transport stream of digital multimedia and/or commands on said IEEE 1394, Serial Bus and/or to receive a transport stream of digital multimedia and/or commands from said IEEE 1394, Serial Bus.