Data pipeline system and data encoding method

Abstract

A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit stream. The pipeline system employs a plurality of interconnected stages to decode and decompress the single bit stream, including a start code detector. When in a search mode, the start code detector searches for a specific start code corresponding to one of multiple compression standards. The start code detector responding to the single serial bit stream generates control tokens and data tokens. A respective one of the tokens includes a plurality of data words. Each data word has an extension bit which indicates a presence of additional words therein. The data words are thereby unlimited in number. A token decode circuit positioned in certain of the stages recognizes certain of the tokens as control tokens pertinent to that stage and passes unrecognized control tokens to a succeeding stage. A reconfigurable decode and parser processing means positioned in certain of the stages is responsive to a recognized control token and reconfigures a particular stage to handle an identified data token. Methods relating to the decoder and decompression system include processing steps relating thereto

1 . A decoder interface comprising: 
 an input circuit that has a port for receiving encoded data; and    control circuitry that is coupled to and controls the input circuit to operate selectively in a first mode to receive raw byte data at the port and in a second mode to receive tokens at the port.    
     
     
         2 . The decoder interface of  claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a coded data port.  
     
     
         3 . The decoder interface of  claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a microprocessor interface.  
     
     
         4 . The decoder interface of  claim 2 , wherein the port further includes a microprocessor interface.  
     
     
         5 . The decoder interface of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry includes a byte mode signal for selecting the first or the second mode.  
     
     
         6 . The decoder interface of  claim 5 , wherein the mode selection is dynamically changeable.  
     
     
         7 . The decoder interface of  claim 1 , wherein the received raw byte data is placed into tokens.  
     
     
         8 . The decoder interface of  claim 7 , wherein a first byte of the raw byte data causes a token header to be generated.  
     
     
         9 . The decoder interface of  claim 8 , wherein subsequent bytes of the raw byte data are appended to the token header to form tokens.  
     
     
         10 . A method of operating an input circuit to receive encoded data for decoding purposes comprising: 
 operating the input circuit in a first mode to receive raw byte data at a port of the input circuit; and    operating the input circuit in a second mode to receive tokens at the port of the input circuit.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the port is a coded data port.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the port is a microprocessor interface.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a byte mode selects one of the first and the second modes.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mode selection is dynamically changeable.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein operating the input circuit in the first mode comprises: 
 forming tokens from the received raw byte data.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming tokens comprises: 
 generating a token header in response to receiving a first byte of the raw byte data.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 appending subsequent bytes of the raw byte data to the generated token header.