Patent ID: 7430361

Claim:
A method for decoding and displaying MPEG pictures in a rewind speed mode, the method comprising: receiving a stream of picture data compressed according to a MPEG standard using a specified number N of frame memories, wherein each of the memories are adapted for storing a decoded picture, and wherein N is an integer greater than 3; allocating frame memories when one of the frame memories is to be overwritten so as to permit storage of a new picture to be decoded as follows; overwriting based on a priority, a frame memory a picture which has already been displayed and which is no longer required for performing a next picture decoding; overwriting based on a priority, a frame memory, in which a picture which exhibits a minimum decoding cost is stored; not overwriting a frame memory, in which a picture which is currently being displayed is stored; not overwriting a frame memory, in which a picture which is ready for display but has not yet been displayed is stored; and not overwriting a frame memory, in which a reference picture required for decoding of a new picture to be decoded is stored; wherein if no frame memory as allocated above can be overwritten, then suspending the decoding the until a picture is displayed and the frame memories are re-allocated as after this display as characterized above.