Patent ID: 6278838
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A peek-ahead memory buffer comprising:a circular FIFO buffer comprising a plurality of memory locations;a data input coupled to said circular FIFO buffer, wherein said data input is configured to receive a data stream and to store data from the data stream into a write location in said circular FIFO buffer;a data output coupled to said circular FIFO buffer wherein said data output is configured to receive data from a read location in said circular FIFO buffer;a write pointer coupled to said circular FIFO buffer, wherein said write pointer indicates the write location and wherein said write pointer is configured to cycle the write location through said circular FIFO buffer;a read pointer coupled to said circular FIFO buffer, wherein said read pointer indicates the read location and wherein said read pointer is configured to cycle the read location through said circular FIFO buffer;wherein said read pointer is operable to advance the read location from a start location to an intermediate location, wherein the intermediate location stores an upstream portion of the data stream, thereby allowing preliminary access to the upstream portion of the data stream.