Decoder of variable length codes

A method of decoding encoded blocks of data, the encoded blocks of data each comprising a plurality of variable-length code words, a plurality of not-encoded bit fields of variable length, and a plurality of not-encoded fields of fixed length, wherein the variable-length code words are interleaved with the not-encoded bit fields of variable length and the not-encoded fields of fixed length, said method comprising the steps:

• removing the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length from the encoded blocks of data and outputting the variable-length code words interleaved with the not-encoded bit fields of variable length as blocks of data, and outputting signals indicating positions of the removed not-encoded bit fields of fixed length in the outputted blocks of data;
• and
• passing the signals indicating the positions to an output of a decoder apparatus in a synchronous and parallel manner, with the outputted blocks of data being decoded, such that, if there is a multiplicity of the variable-length code words between the non-encoded bit fields of fixed length being input, then a multiplicity of corresponding decoded data appears at the output between two signals indicating positions corresponding to the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length at the input.

A method of decoding encoded blocks of data, the encoded blocks of data each comprising a plurality of variable-length code words, a plurality of not-encoded bit fields of variable length, and a plurality of not-encoded fields of fixed length, wherein the variable-length code words are interleaved with the not-encoded bit fields of variable length and the not-encoded fields of fixed length, said method comprising the steps:

• removing bytes from the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length from the encoded blocks of data and replacing the removed bytes with dummy bytes so as to provide modified encoded blocks of data, and outputting tags, wherein each byte of the modified encoded blocks of data has a corresponding tag indicating whether the byte has been removed and replaced;
• and
• passing the tags to an output of a decoding apparatus in a synchronous and parallel manner, with the modified encoded blocks of data be ing decoded, such that, if there is a multiplicity of the variable-length code words between the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length at an input of the apparatus, then a multiplicity of corresponding decoded data appears at the output of the apparatus between tags corresponding to the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length at the input.

An apparatus for decoding encoded blocks of data, the encoded blocks of data each comprising a plurality of variable-length code words, a plurality of not-encoded bit fields of variable length, and a plurality of not-encoded fields of fixed length, wherein the variable-length code words are interleaved with the not-encoded bit fields of variable length and the not-encoded fields of fixed length, said apparatus comprising:

• a preprocessing logic unit for removing bytes from the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length from the encoded blocks of data and replacing the removed bytes with dummy bytes so as to provide modified encoded blocks of data, and for outputting tags, wherein each byte of the modified encoded blocks of data has a corresponding tag indicating whether the byte has been removed and replaced by said preprocessing unit;
• and
• a circuit adapted for passing the tags to an output of said apparatus in a synchronous and parallel manner, with the modified encoded blocks of data being decoded, such that, if there is a multiplicity of the variable-length code words between the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length at an input of said apparatus, then a multiplicity of corresponding decoded data appears at the output of said apparatus between tags corresponding to the not-encoded bit fields of fixed length at the input.