Patent ID: 8594181

Claim:
A multi-decoder selectively switching a plurality of streams to effect decoding, the streams including mutually different coding, and the streams being a frame structure including a header area and an information area, comprising: a plurality of decoders for different types of coding; an input buffer connected to input sides of the respective decoders via respective lines for transmitting the streams of mutually different coding to the decoders simultaneously, and configured to temporarily hold a stream input to each of the decoders, wherein the streams include a switching original stream and a switching destination stream; an output buffer configured to store and output the decoded output signal output from the decoders; an output switcher configured to selectively output the decoded output signal of the output buffer; and a controller configured to: determine a decoding delay difference based on data of the header area of the switching original stream and data of the header area of the switching destination stream stored in the input buffer, determine whether or not the decoding delay difference is more than one frame, and to generate a result, when the decoding delay difference is more than one frame, read out the switching destination stream from the input buffer when the decoding delay difference does not exceed one frame and read out the switching destination stream from the input buffer in a period of time shorter than the decoding delay difference after a last decoded output signal is switched, when the decoding delay difference is more than one frame, output the switching destination stream to the corresponding decoder, and control the output switcher to delay switching of a decoded output signal of a sender to another decoded output signal by the time equivalent to the decoding delay difference, in response to the result, when inputting a stream switching signal.