Timestamp conversion

1. A time-base conversion method for obtaining a target time stamp on a target time-base from an originating time stamp on an originating time-base of a system comprising the steps of:

a. taking samples simultaneously from transport streams having the originating time-base and target time-base, respectively;

b. storing a current sample and an immediately preceding sample for each of the originating time-base and the target time-base, respectively;

c. determining a first difference between the current sample and the immediately preceding sample for the originating time-base and a second difference between the current sample and the immediately preceding sample for the target time-base, respectively;

d. adding half the first difference to the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference to the current sample of the target time-base if the current sample of the originating time base is less than the originating time-stamp and subtracting half the first difference from the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference from the current sample of the target time-base if the current sample of the originating time base is more than the originating time-stamp;

e. halving the first difference and the second difference;

f. iterating steps d. and e. until the first difference or the second difference is less than a predetermined value; and

g. outputting the iterated current sample of the target time-base as the target time-stamp.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an initial iterative step of determining an initial difference between the originating time-stamp and the current sample of the originating time base wherein step d) comprises adding half the first difference to the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference to the current sample of the target time-base if the initial difference is negative and subtracting half the first difference from the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference from the current sample of the target time-base if the initial difference is positive.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a rate at which the time-bases are sampled at a predetermined rate to avoid inaccuracy due to clock wander.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a rate at which the time-bases are sampled is below a predetermined rate so that an interval between samples is at least as long as a duration of a packet within the system.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising storing more than two samples and using a pre-interpolation search to find two most appropriate samples to use for the interpolation process.

6. A time-base converter arranged to obtain a target time stamp on a target time-base from a originating time stamp on an originating time-base of a system, the time-base converter comprising a processor configured to perform the following acts:

a. taking samples simultaneously from transport streams having the originating time-base and target time-base, respectively;

b. storing a current sample and an immediately preceding sample for each of the originating time-base and the target time-base, respectively;

c. determining a first difference between the current sample and the immediately preceding sample for the originating time-base and a second difference between the current sample and the immediately preceding sample for the target time-base, respectively;

d. adding half the first difference to the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference to current sample of the target time-base if the current sample of the originating time base is less than the originating time-stamp, and subtracting half the first difference from the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference from the current sample of the target time-base if the current sample of the originating time base is more than the originating time-stamp;

e. halving the first difference and the second difference;

f. iterating the summing or subtracting and halving until the first difference or the second difference less than a predetermined value; and

g. outputting the iterated current sample of the target time-base as the target time-stamp.

7. A time-base converter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine an initial difference between the originating time-stamp and the current sample of the originating time base, and to add half the first difference to the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference to the current sample of the target time-base if the initial difference is negative, and to subtract half the first difference from the current sample of the originating time base and half the second difference from the current sample of the target time-base if the initial difference is positive.

8. A time-base converter as claimed in claim 6 , arranged such that a rate at which the time-bases are sampled at a predetermined rate to avoid inaccuracy due to clock wander.

9. A time-base converter as claimed in claim 6 , arranged such that a rate at which the time-bases are sampled is below a predetermined rate so that an interval between samples is at least as long as a duration of a packet within the system.

10. A time-base converter as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the processor is arranged to store more than two samples and to use a pre-interpolation search to find two most appropriate samples to use for the interpolation process.