Patent ID: 7432835
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H03M

Abstract:
1. A variable length decoding method operable to perform decoding of encoded data which is variable-length-encoded in conformity with one of a plurality of standards, said variable length decoding method comprising: retrieving a decoding table in correspondence to a target standard of encoded data to be decoded from a mass memory which possesses a plurality of decoding tables, each of the plurality of decoding tables corresponding to each of the plurality of standards; performing a first storing of the decoding table retrieved in said retrieving to a decoding table memory; performing a second storing of standard information of the target standard to a standard information storage unit; comparing the target standard of the encoded data to be decoded with a standard of previously-decoded encoded data, with reference to the standard information stored in the standard information storage unit; and variable-length-decoding the encoded data, using the decoding table stored in the decoding table memory, wherein when said comparing determines that the target standard of the encoded data to be decoded is identical with the standard of the previously-decoded encoded data, said variable-length-decoding includes decoding the encoded data using the decoding table already stored in the decoding table memory, and wherein when said comparing determines that the target standard of the encoded data to be decoded is not identical with the standard of the previously-decoded encoded data, said retrieving includes retrieving a decoding table of the target standard from the mass memory, said performing the first storing includes storing the retrieved decoding table to the decoding table memory, said variable-length-decoding includes decoding the encoded data using the decoding table of the target standard newly stored in the decoding table memory, and said performing the second storing includes newly storing standard information of the target standard to the standard information storage unit.