DATA STREAM CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING COUNTER VALUES WITH STORED SELECTED DATA PACKETS FROM AN INCOMING DATA TRANSPORT STREAM TO PRESERVE INTERPACKET TIME INTERVAL INFORMATION

A data stream control system and a method selectively store a series of selected data packets with interpacket time intervals from an incoming data transport stream. The data stream control system includes a programmable data packet filter that transmits the series of selected data packets in response to the packet filter parameter. A counter provides counter values for the selected data packets representing a time of reception for the respective selected data packet. The counter values are stored in association with the respective selected data packets to preserve information regarding the interpacket time intervals. The data stream control system can further include a timing restorer to transmit a stored series of selected data packets with interpacket time intervals which substantially match the corresponding interpacket time intervals of the series of selected data packets.