Arithmetic decoding apparatus and method

An arithmetic decoding method comprising:

• determining a range of a most probable symbol and a range of a least probable symbol which are required to decode a current symbol;
• determining a range of a most probable symbol and a range of a least probable symbol which are required to decode a next symbol using a prediction that the current symbol is the most probable symbol used to decode the current symbol;
• comparing a current offset and the range of the most probable symbol used to decode the current symbol, and determining the value of the current symbol;
• and
• comparing a next offset and the range of the most probable symbol used to decode the next symbol and determining a range of the next symbol.

A computer readable recording medium having embodied thereon a program for executing an arithmetic decoding method is stored, wherein the arithmetic decoding method comprises:

• determining a range of a most probable symbol and a range of a least probable symbol which are required to decode a current symbol;
• determining a range of a most probable symbol and a range of a least probable symbol required to decode a next symbol using a prediction that the current symbol is the most probable symbol used to decode the current symbol;
• comparing a current offset and the range of the most probable symbol used to decode the current symbol, and determining the value of the current symbol;
• and
• comparing a next offset and the range of the most probable symbol used to decode the next symbol, and determining a value of the next symbol.