Parallel entropy encoder and parallel entropy decoder

An entropy encoder block for use in a context adaptive encoder, the entropy encoder block for encoding phrase words into code words using encoding search tree lookup tables, each encoding search tree lookup table corresponding to one of N encoding probabilities used by a context modeling component of the context adaptive encoder, the entropy encoder block receiving phrase words and an associated probability corresponding to one of the N probabilities for each phrase word, the entropy encoder block comprising:

• a plurality of encoding elements for receiving phrase words and an indication of the associated probability for each phrase word, the plurality of encoding elements each connected to and operative to access a subset of one or more of the encoding search tree lookup tables to select a corresponding encoding search tree lookup table associated with each probability, such that each of the N encoding probabilities are serviced by at least one of the plurality of encoding elements and at least one of the N encoding probabilities is serviced by two or more encoding elements, and to encode the received phrase words using the selected encoding search tree lookup table to generate output code words;
• and,
• a state machine for assigning the phrase words to a particular encoding element based upon the encoding search tree lookup tables connected to that encoding element and an availability of that encoding element.