Patent ID: 7184450

Claim:
A decoder system comprising: a control unit capable of performing multiple tasks and capable of being interrupted during at least one of the tasks to perform at least one other of the tasks; a first data buffer comprising a video input buffer and an audio input buffer; a stream demultiplexer for receiving an incoming data stream comprising data packets each comprising at least one of (i) encoded video data and a video header that contains video timing information for the encoded video data and (ii) encoded audio data and an audio header that contains audio timing information for the encoded audio data, the stream demultiplexer operating (a) to demultiplex and depacketize the data packets without interrupting the control unit, (b) to send the encoded video data to the video input buffer for storage there without the video timing information, (c) to provide, for use by the control unit, video messages which identify where the encoded video data is stored in the video input buffer and which also deal with the video timing information, and (d) to send the encoded audio data to the audio input buffer for storage there; a video decoder that decodes the encoded video data to produce decoded video data utilizing video instructions provided from the control unit as to where the encoded video data is stored in the video input buffer; an audio decoder that decodes the encoded audio data to produce decoded audio data; a second data buffer comprising (a) a video output buffer that stores the decoded video data and (b) an audio output buffer that stores the decoded audio data; and a memory management unit responsive to signals from the control unit for controlling transfer of the decoded audio data to and from the audio output buffer.