Stream multiplexer/de-multiplexer

Apparatus for performing multiplexing and de-multiplexing of packetized digital data streams, including receivers for receiving data packets from packetized digital data streams, validating the packets, and transmitting only valid packets, PID filters for filtering packets according to a Packet ID included in the packets, the filters receiving valid packets from the receivers, and associating a store-or-drop value with each valid packet, input FIFO buffers for receiving valid packets from the receivers, receiving the store-or-drop value from the PID filters, and storing data based, at least in part, on the store-or-drop value, an input/output unit for transmitting the stored data from the input FIFO buffers to an external memory and reading data from the external memory, output FIFO buffers for receiving data from the input/output unit and storing the data, and transmitters for reading digital data packets from the output FIFO buffers and transmitting the packets as a packetized digital data stream, thereby de-multiplexing the packetized digital data streams and multiplexing the packetized digital data streams. Related apparatus and methods are also described.