Method of processing variable size blocks of data by storing numbers representing size of data blocks in a fifo

A method of dynamically synchronously processing contiguous unequal size Blocks of compressed data comprising continuously:

• serially writing said compressed data into a first fifo memory;
• developing counts of the numbers of bits in each of said Blocks;
• storing said counts in a second fifo memory;
• and
• sequentially reading said counts from said second fifo memory for identifying corresponding Blocks of data as said Blocks of data are being read from said first fifo memory.

A receiver for processing a continuous stream of digital data in contiguous Blocks of sequential bits wherein the number of bits of data in each Block is not uniform comprising:

• a first and a second fifo memory;
• an input counter and an output counter;
• means for writing said digital data to said first fifo memory;
• means for controlling said input counter to develop a count representative of the number of bits in a Block of data supplied to said first fifo memory and for writing said count to said second fifo memory;
• detection means for reading said count from said second fifo memory and for loading said count in said output counter;
• and
• means for controlling said output counter as said digital data is being read from said first fifo memory;
• said detection means comprising means for determining when the number of bits read from said first fifo memory equals the count loaded in said output counter for developing a reset signal and means for resetting said output counter and controlling said second fifo memory with said reset signal.

A method of dynamically processing variably sized blocks of compressed data in a signal processing apparatus, the method comprising continuously:

• receiving a video bitstream including compressed data;
• and
• obtaining a clock signal for finding a separation point between an end of the compressed data and a beginning of the compressed data;
• processing the compressed data in the video bitstream by variable length decoding, the processing being based on input numbers representing sizes of Blocks of the compressed data by,
• sequentially writing the compressed data into a first first-in first-out (fifo) memory, the writing being based on the clock signal,
• sequentially developing the input numbers representing the sizes of the Blocks of the compressed data,
• sequentially storing the developed input numbers in a second fifo memory, and
• sequentially reading the stored input numbers from the second fifo memory in order to identify the Blocks of compressed data being read out from the first fifo memory.