Macroblock-level partitioned HDTV video decoder and related method

An apparatus for decoding a bit stream which includes a plurality of blocks of data, which blocks are in the form of macroblocks;

• said apparatus comprising:
• means for identifying boundaries between the blocks of data in the bit stream and producing block boundary information indicative of the identified boundaries;
• means for combining the block boundary information with the bit stream to produce a combined bit stream consisting of successive multi-bit portions, said combining being carried out by byte-wise aligning the beginning of each block in the bit stream and a corresponding start code in said stream with one of a plurality of possible start positions;
• a rate buffer for storing and sequentially outputting the successive multi-bit portions of the combined bit stream;
• and
• means for decoding the successive multi-bit portions of the combined bit stream sequentially outputted from the rate buffer.

An apparatus for decoding a bit stream which includes a series of macroblocks of digital video data which are coded in accordance with a predetermined digital video compression code;

• said apparatus comprising:
• a bit stream parser for identifying boundaries between the macroblocks in the bit stream and producing macroblock boundary information indicative of the identified boundaries;
• a bit stream formatter for combining the macroblock boundary information with the bit stream to produce a combined bit stream consisting of successive multi-bit portions, said combining being carried out by byte-wise aligning of the beginning of each block in the bit stream and a corresponding start code in said bit stream with one of a plurality of possible start positions;
• a rate buffer for storing and sequentially outputting the successive multi-bit portions of the combined bit stream;
• first and second FIFO memories;
• a FIFO controller for alternately write enabling the first and second FIFO memories in response to detection of the macroblock boundary information, whereby the first and second FIFO memories alternately store successive macroblocks of the combined bit stream sequentially outputted from the rate buffer;
• and
• first and second variable length decoders for decoding the successive macroblocks in the combined bit stream respectively stored in the first and second FIFO memories.