Patent ID: 7228064

Claim:
A decoding apparatus that converts a plurality of fixed-length data units to a plurality of variable-length data sets and decodes the plurality of variable-length data sets, the plurality of fixed-length data units constituting a synchronized block of digital tape, the decoding apparatus comprising: a decoder that performs an end code judging processing of judging whether each fixed-length data unit includes an end code that indicates an end of a variable-length data set, and a variable-length data decoding processing of decoding the plurality of variable-length data sets; a processor that performs the conversion and has the decoder perform the variable-length data decoding processing, wherein the conversion includes: an extraction processing of extracting a first variable-length data set, from a fixed-length data unit judged to include an end code at the end code judging processing and a reconstitution processing of combining a remainder of the fixed-length data unit with another fixed-length data unit which does not include an end code, in order to reconstitute a second variable-length data set; an interface unit that connects the decoding apparatus with an external apparatus; and a detecting unit that detects whether data inputted from the external apparatus through the interface is either variable-length data or a synchronized block read from the digital tape, wherein when the detecting unit has detected the data being variable-length data, the processor does not perform the conversion, and the decoder decodes the variable-length data that has been inputted from the external apparatus, and when the detecting unit has detected the data being a synchronized block, the decoder performs the end code judging processing and the variable-length data decoding processing, and the processor performs the conversion.