Patent ID: 8498340

Claim:
A method implemented in an apparatus for decoding and displaying video frames, wherein the apparatus includes a decoding element, a storing element and a displaying element, and wherein said method when executed by the apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a plurality of steps comprising: providing a plurality of predetermined reference numbers indicative of different states associated with multiple portions in a buffer of the storing element, the reference numbers including an initial reference number indicating that an associated portion of the buffer is available for storing a new reference frame, a first reference number indicating that the associated portion of the buffer contains a newly-stored reference frame, and a second reference number indicating that the associated portion of the buffer is storing a reference frame that is to be next displayed, the second reference number thereby indicating which one among the reference frames stored in the buffer is to be next displayed; storing a first reference frame decoded by the decoding element in a first portion of a buffer that has the initial reference number; changing the reference number of the first portion where the first reference frame is stored from the initial reference number to the first reference number; storing a second reference frame decoded by the decoding element in a second portion of said buffer that has the initial reference number, wherein the second reference frame immediately follows the first reference frame in a decoding sequence of the decoding element; changing the reference number associated with the first portion of said buffer where the first reference frame is stored from the first reference number to the second reference number, and associating the first reference number to the second portion of said buffer where the second reference frame is newly stored; and after the first portion of the buffer is changed to the second reference number, concurrently displaying the first reference frame stored in the first portion of the buffer as a third reference frame is newly stored in a third portion of said buffer.