System and method for enhancing performance of personal video recording (PVR) functions on hits digital video streams

A system for displaying pictures, said system comprising:

• a memory for storing a plurality of instructions;
• a video decoder for executing the plurality of instructions;
• and
• wherein execution of the instructions by the video decoder comprises causing:
• selecting a picture, said picture comprising an intracoded slice and at least one slice above the intracoded slice;
• decoding the at least one slice above the intracoded slice;
• decoding the intracoded slice;
• and
• selecting another picture, based on the decoding the at least one slice above the intracoded slice and decoding the intracoded slice.

A decoder for displaying pictures, said decoder comprising:

• a buffer for storing a first picture and a second picture, wherein the first picture and the second picture each comprise:
• an intracoded slice;
• and
• at least one slice above the intracoded slice;
• and
• a video decoder for decoding the at least one slice above the intracoded slice of the second picture, based on decoding the intracoded slice and the at least one slice above the intracoded slice of the first picture.