Multistandard video decoder and decompression system for processing encoded bit streams including storing data and methods relating thereto

• US 20020152369A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adrian P. Wise, Anthony M. Jones, Anthony Peter J. Claydon, Helen R. Finch, Kevin J. Boyd, Martin W. Sotheran, Willam P. Robbins
• Original Assignee: Adrian P. Wise, Anthony M. Jones, Anthony Peter J. Claydon, Helen R. Finch, Kevin J. Boyd, Martin W. Sotheran, Willam P. Robbins
• Inventors: Robbins, Willam P., Wise, Adrian P., Jones, Anthony M., Boyd, Kevin J., Finch, Helen R., Sotheran, Martin W., Claydon, Anthony Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US09/771,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 712/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0207 with multidimensional access, e.g. row/column, matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/04 Addressing variable-length words or parts of words
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0607 Interleaved addressing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/16 for access to memory bus G06F13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1673 using buffers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/1689 Synchronisation and timing concerns synchronisation on a memory bus G06F13/4234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3867 using instruction pipelines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4494 data driven
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/13 Adaptive entropy coding, e.g. adaptive variable length coding [AVLC] or context adaptive binary arithmetic coding [CABAC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/42 characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation H04N19/635 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/423 characterised by memory arrangements H04N19/433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/91 Entropy coding, e.g. variable length coding [VLC] or arithmetic coding

Abstract

A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit stream. The pipeline system employs a plurality of interconnected stages to decode and decompress the single bit stream, including a start code detector. When in a search mode, the start code detector searches for a specific start code corresponding to one of multiple compression standards. The start code detector responding to the single serial bit stream generates control tokens and data tokens. A respective one of the tokens includes a plurality of data words. Each data word has an extension bit which indicates a presence of additional words therein. The data words are thereby unlimited in number. A token decode circuit positioned in certain of the stages recognizes certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and passes unrecognized control tokens to a succeeding stage. A reconfigurable decode and parser processing means positioned in certain of the stages is responsive to a recognized control token and reconfigures a particular stage to handle an identified data token. Methods relating to the decoder and decompression system include processing steps relating thereto.

Claims

1. A method of storing data, comprising:

receiving a sequence of data words of a first predetermined width and different respective formats;

splitting the data words of the received sequence to form new data words of a new sequence, the new data words having a second predetermined width;

packing the consecutive new data words consecutively in a token buffer of a second width without holes between the packed new data words; and

unpacking the data words to reproduce the new sequence of new data words.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

writing a block of data from the token buffer to a random access memory device configured to store words of the second width.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

expanding out run length code in the unpacked words.

4. An inverse modeler, comprising:

a data unpacker to unpack data words received from an input terminal to a different length format;

a data expander coupled to the data unpacker; and

a data padder to pad data tokens received from the expander.

5. The inverse modeler of claim 4, wherein the data expander expands out run length codes into runs of zeros followed by a level in the packed data.

6. The inverse modeler of claim 5, wherein the data padder pads the last word of the expanded tokens.

7. The inverse modeler of claim 4, wherein the data unpacker deletes data between a flush signal and a block end signal.