Decompression system for compressed video data for providing uninterrupted decompressed video data output

A video decompression system comprising:

• a first switch coupled to at least two video data input lines, the first switch controlling the direction and rate of video data flow from the video data input lines;
• at least two video data decompression arrays coupled to the first switch, the video data decompression arrays storing compressed video data, decompressing the stored compressed video data, and storing the decompressed video data;
• a second switch coupled to the video data decompression arrays and to an output bus, the second switch directing output from the at least two video data decompression arrays to the output bus;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first switch, the video data decompression arrays, and to the second switch for controlling the flow of video data through the system.

A method for providing continuous decompressed video data to an output from a plurality of compressed video data streams, the compressed video data streams, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the plurality of compressed video data streams;
• selecting a first video data stream;
• decompressing the selected first video data stream at a first rate for the duration of the first video data stream;
• decompressing the remaining video data streams at a second rate prior to the end of the first video data stream;
• providing the decompressed first video data stream to the output;
• and
• repeating the selecting, decompressing, decompressing and providing steps until all the video data streams have been provided to the output.