Variable length codes for coding of video data

A video coding apparatus, the video coding apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying run information for a plurality of symbol combinations of a plurality of digital video block coefficients of a transform block, wherein the run information indicates a number of contiguous zero coefficients;
• means for storing data defining a multi-level VLC table, wherein the multi-level VLC table comprises a first-level VLC table and a second-level VLC table, wherein the first-level VLC table maps codewords to symbol combinations;
• and
• for a first symbol combination comprising first run information indicating a first number of contiguous zero coefficients is greater than a cut-off-run value, means for assigning a first codeword to the first symbol combination, wherein the first codeword comprises an escape code from the first-level VLC table.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing thereon one or more instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:

• identify run information for a plurality of symbol combinations of a plurality of digital video block coefficients of a transform block, wherein the run information indicates a number of contiguous zero coefficients;
• access data defining a multi-level VLC table, wherein the multi-level VLC table comprises a first-level VLC table and a second-level VLC table, wherein the first-level VLC table maps codewords to symbol combinations;
• and
• for a first symbol combination comprising first run information indicating a first number of contiguous zero coefficients is greater than a cut-off-run value, assign a first codeword to the first symbol combination, wherein the first codeword comprises an escape code from a first-level VLC table.