Abstract: A macroblock tiling format method and system for implementing the method during an MPEG decoding process is disclosed. The macroblock tiling format groups picture data samples into tiles, each tile including a combination of luminance and/or chrominance data samples corresponding to a given number of macroblocks. Picture data samples in a tile is mapped to memory locations within a single memory page of a buffer memory which temporarily stores decoded pictures.

Abstract: A conversion system for converting run-level pairs into variable length codes (VLCs) for purposes of compression, where each run-level pair includes a run and level value derived from scanning blocks of DCT coefficients. Each run value is provided to a programmable memory, which stores a segment address table comprising a list of base addresses, where a base address is included for each valid run value. An adder is provided for adding the base address to the level value of the run-level pair for determining a VLC address. The VLC address is provided to another programmable memory, which stores a table of VLCs, where the VLCs are grouped according to corresponding run values into a plurality of run segments, where each run segment corresponds to one run value and where each group of VLCs are ordered according to level values. The VLCs are preferably organized in ascending order based on the level values.