Video decoding device and method, and program product therefor

A method of playing back a video stream in a reverse direction while performing telecine conversion, the video stream containing pictures each formed from top and bottom fields, the method comprising:

• reading out the bottom field, the top field, and the bottom field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that a field be repeated for telecine conversion and that the bottom field be read first in forward playback mode;
• reading out the top field, the bottom field, and the top field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that a field be repeated for telecine conversion and that the top field be read first in forward playback mode;
• reading out the top field and the bottom field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that no fields be repeated and that the bottom field be read first in forward playback mode;
• and
• reading out the bottom field and the top field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that no fields be repeated and that the top field be read first in forward playback mode.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a program product which enables a computer to play back a video stream in a reverse direction while performing telecine conversion, the video stream containing pictures each formed from top and bottom fields, the program product causing the computer to function as:

• a video data storage unit which stores pictures constituting the video stream that is being played back;
• and
• a reverse playback unit, reading out the pictures from the video data storage unit,
• wherein the reverse playback unit reads out the bottom field, the top field, and the bottom field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that a field be repeated for telecine conversion and that the bottom field be read first in forward playback mode,
• wherein the reverse playback unit reads out the top field, the bottom field, and the top field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that a field be repeated for telecine conversion and that the top field be read first in forward playback mode,
• wherein the reverse playback unit reads out the top field and the bottom field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that no fields be repeated and that the bottom field be read first in forward playback mode, and
• wherein the reverse playback unit reads out the bottom field and the bottom field of a picture, in that order, when attributes of the picture specify that no fields be repeated and that the top field be read first in forward playback mode.