Method and system for video encoding and decoding

A method of decoding a bitstream, comprising:

• receiving a bitstream comprising a plurality of slices, each slice representing the coded image data from a contiguous series of macroblocks in a common macroblock row of a source image, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks;
• and
• for each slice, decoding an initial portion of the coded image data, the initial portion containing a set of run-length coded transform coefficients the coefficients grouped by like-position within the blocks within the contiguous series of macroblocks in pictures of a common component type.

A system for decoding a source image, comprising:

• a decoder to receive a bitstream comprising a plurality of slices, each slice representing the coded image data from a contiguous series of macroblocks in a common macroblock row of a source image, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks;
• and
• an inverse scan system to, for each slice, extract an initial portion of the coded image data, the initial portion containing a set of run-length coded transform coefficients, the coefficients grouped by like-position within the blocks within the contiguous series of macroblocks in pictures of a common component type.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for execution on at least one processor, which when executed cause the at least one processor to perform a method comprising:

• receiving a bitstream comprising a plurality of slices, each slice representing the coded image data from a contiguous series of macroblocks in a common macroblock row of a source image, each macroblock containing a plurality of blocks;
• and
• for each slice, decoding an initial portion of the coded image data, the initial portion containing a set of run-length coded transform coefficients, the coefficients grouped by like-position within the blocks within the contiguous series of macroblocks in pictures of a common component type.