Patent ID: 6879770

Claim:
Method of decoding MPEG coded digital picture data, the method comprising: receiving MPEG compressed digital picture data in a forward reproduction order; storing the compressed picture data in at least one GOP (Group Of Picture) according to the MPEG standard, said compressed picture data including I-picture data, P-picture data and B-picture data; retrieving the compressed picture data to produce decoded pictures by picture predictions according to a decoding method of the MPEG standard; wherein if a reverse layback order reproduction is ordered; repeatedly retrieving compressed picture data in a forward reproduction order for repeatedly decoding said retrieved picture data; displaying the decoded picture data in an order reverse to the forward reproduction order, characterized by, temporarily storing the decoded picture data in order to reduce the times of repeatedly retrieving and decoding compressed picture data in a forward reproduction order; decoding retrieved picture data employing said temporarily stored decoded picture data for display in an order reverse to the forward reproduction order; storing in addition compressed picture data of a previous GOP; retrieving compressed picture data from the previous GOP in an forward reproduction order; producing decoded pictures of the previous GOP by picture predictions according to a decoding method of the MPEG standard; and temporarily storing the produced decoded pictures of the previous GOP in order to limit retrieval of compressed picture data of the previous GOP to once-only.