SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DECODING OF VARIABLE LENGTH CODES

A system for decoding variable length codes comprises a window buffer, a unique variable length code look-up table and a decoder. The window buffer is coupled to receive a bit stream and provides a window output having the same number of bits in the longest variable length code. The output of the window buffer is coupled to address the variable length code look-up table. The look-up table has entries pre-calculated based on the variable length code book and is pre-stored in the system. The window buffer can have a size of any number of bits from X to Y where X is the number of bits in the longest variable length code and Y is a number greater than X. The output of the variable length code look-up table is provided to the decoder. The output of the variable length code look-up table includes the code specified by the bits, and a number of bits that the window buffer should be incremented. This number is in turn used by the decoder to increment the window buffer. The present invention is particularly advantageous because with a modest increase in the size and format of the variable length code look-up table, the decoder in a single computation can determine the code.