A splicing system includes a splicer for seamlessly splicing togther digitally
encoded data streams. In a preferred embodiment, the splicer preferably parses
successive splice buffers of data stream data for a splice-out point and a splice-in
point, closing an initial group of pictures GOP if needed. The preferred splicer
further finds a new data stream real-time program clock reference PCR value for
aligning new data stream decode/presentation, and aligns the new data stream start
time. Concurrently, the splicer preferably uses a frame table to detect overflow
and corrects such overflow by adding null packets, thereby delaying portions of
data stream data. The splicer also preferably restores data stream encoding by
deleting null packets, and thereby accelerating a portion of data stream data.
In a further preferred embodiment, the splicer preferably uses a bit-clock schedule
offset to delay or accelerate portions of data stream data.