Patent ID: 7719447

Claim:
A variable length decoding device configured to perform decoding of encoded data which is variable-length-encoded in conformity with one of a plurality of standards, said variable length decoding device comprising: a mass memory configured to store a plurality of decoding tables corresponding to the plurality of standards; an encoded data memory configured to store the encoded data; a standard information storage unit configured to store standard information on a target standard on which the encoded data is based; a decoding table memory configured to store a decoding table for the target standard with reference to the standard information; a variable length decoding unit configured to variable-length-decode the encoded data stored in said encoded data memory, with reference to the decoding table of the target standard stored in said decoding table memory, thereby generating decoded data; a decoded data memory configured to store the decoded data; and a transferring unit configured to transfer the decoding table of the target standard from said mass memory to said decoding table memory, referring to the standard information.