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1# MPEG-TS helper library
2
3This library should be linked to by getting cflags and libs from
4gstreamer-plugins-bad-{{ gst_api_version.md }}.pc and adding
5-lgstmpegts-{{ gst_api_version.md }} to the library flags.
6
7> NOTE: This library API is considered *unstable*
8
9## Purpose
10
11The MPEG-TS helper library provides a collection of definitions, object,
12enumerations and functions to assist with dealing with the base *MPEG 2
13Transport Stream* (MPEG-TS) format (as defined by `ISO/IEC 13818-1` and `ITU-T
14H.222.0`) and its derivates (`DVB`, `ATSC`, `SCTE`, `ARIB`, `Blu-ray`, `AVCHD`,
15...).
16
17
18This library provides helpers for dealing with:
19
20* The various Section Information (SI) and Program-Specific Information (SI),
21  handled with the [GstMpegtsSection](GstMpegtsSection) object and related
22  functions.
23
24* The various descriptors present in SI/PSI, handled with the
25  [GstMpegtsDescriptor](GstMpegtsDescriptor) object and related functions.
26
27
28This library does not cover:
29
30* Parsing MPEG-TS packets (PSI or PES) and extracting the sections. One can use
31  an existing demuxer/parser element for this, or parse the packets
32  themselves.
33
34* Generate and multiplex MPEG-TS packets and sections. One can use an existing
35  muxer element for this.
36
37Applications, or external elements, can interact with the existing MPEG-TS
38elements via [messages](gst_message_new_mpegts_section) (to receive sections) or
39[events](gst_mpegts_section_send_event) (to send sections).
40
41## Specification and References
42
43As much as possible, the information contained in this library is based on the
44official Specification and/or References listed below:
45
46### `MPEG-TS`
47
48This is the base specification from which all variants are derived. It covers
49the basic sections (for program signalling) and descriptors. All variants must
50abide by this specification.
51
52* `ISO/IEC 13818-1` and `ITU-T H.222.0`: *"Information technology – Generic
53  coding of moving pictures and associated audio information: Systems"*. The two
54  specifications are identical, the ITU one is more easily available (*nudge*).
55
56### `SMPTE-RA` : *SMPTE Registration Authority*
57The official registration authority for MPEG-TS. This is used for the base
58[Registration Descriptor](gst_mpegts_descriptor_parse_registration) which
59allows to unambiguously identify a stream when it is not specified in a standard
60(yet).
61
62* <http://smpte-ra.org/>
63
64### `DVB` : *Digital Video Broadcasting*
65
66This standards body covers the variant of MPEG-TS used in Europe, Oceania, and
67most of Asia and Africa. The standards are actually published by the `ETSI`
68(European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
69
70* `ETSI EN 300 468`: *"Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Specification for
71  Service Information (SI) in DVB systems"*. Covers all the sections and
72  descriptors used in DVB variants.
73* `ETSI EN 101 154`: *"Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB);Specification for the
74  use of Video and Audio Coding in Broadcast and Broadband
75  Applications"*. Provides more details about signalling/sectios for audio/video
76  codecs.
77
78### `ATSC` : *Advanced Television Systems Committee*
79
80This set of standards covers the variants of MPEG-TS used in North America.
81* `ATSC A/53-3` : *"ATSC Digital Television Standard, Part 3 – Service Multiplex
82  and Transport Subsystem Characteristics"*. How ATSC extends the base MPEG-TS.
83* `ATSC A/65` : *"ATSC Standard:Program and System Information Protocol for
84  Terrestrial Broadcast and Cable"*. Covers all sections and descriptors used in
85  ATSC 1.0 variants.
86* `ATSC A/90` : *"ATSC Data Broadcast Standard"*. Extensions for data transfer
87  (i.e. DSM-CC).
88* `ATSC A/107` : *"ATSC 2.0 Standard"*. Adds a few more descriptors.
89* `ATSC Code Points Registry` : The list of stream types, decriptor types,
90  etc... used by ATSC standards.
91
92### `SCTE` : *Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers*
93
94This set of standards evolved in parallel with ATSC in North-America. Most of it
95has been merged into ATSC and other standards since.
96
97* `ANSI/SCTE 35` : *"Digital Program Insertion Cueing Message for Cable"*
98
99### `DSM-CC` : "Digital Storage Media - Command & Control"
100
101This ISO standard is the base for asynchronously carrying "files" over mpeg-ts.
102
103* `ISO/IEC 13818-6` : *"Information technology — Generic coding of moving
104  pictures and associated audio information — Part 6: Extensions for DSM-CC"*.
105