Patent ID: 8351719

Claim:
A decoding apparatus comprising: a storage unit configured to store encoded data; a first decoder configured to receive, from said storage unit, first encoded data to be decoded, configured to decode the first encoded data, and configured to output first decoded data to a first output portion and to a second output portion; a second decoder configured to receive the first decoded data decoded by said first decoder via the second output portion and to store the received first decoded data to a reference data buffer, configured to receive, from said storage unit, second encoded data to be decoded, and configured to decode the second encoded data received from said storage unit based on the first decoded data stored in the reference data buffer and configured to output second decoded data to a third output portion; and an output controller configured to be connected to the first output portion and the third output portion, configured to receive the first decoded data via the first output portion from said first decoder and the second decoded data via the third output portion from said second decoder, and configured to output the first decoded data received via the first output portion from said first decoder and the second decoded data received via the third output portion from said second decoder, wherein said output controller preferentially causes said first decoder to output the first decoded data if a remaining buffer capacity of the reference data buffer is not less than a first threshold value and preferentially causes said second decoder to output the second decoded data if the remaining buffer capacity of the reference data buffer is not more than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, and wherein said output controller executes round robin scheduling for said first decoder and said second decoder if the remaining buffer capacity of the reference data buffer is smaller than the first threshold value and larger than the second threshold value.