Abstract: A picture decoding section starts to decode a bit-stream for one picture when a decoding start command is supplied from a decoding start command generating section, and outputs a decoding completion command when the decoding is completed. Decoded picture data is stored in a decoding frame buffer. The decoding frame buffer outputs a bufferfull notification when a certain quantity of picture data is stored. The decoding start command generating section outputs the decoding start command to the picture decoding section when a decoding completion command is outputted from the picture decoding section and the bufferfull notification is not outputted from the decoding frame buffer.

Abstract: A picture decoding section starts to decode a bit-stream for one picture when a decoding start command is supplied from a decoding start command generating section, and outputs a decoding completion command when the decoding is completed. Decoded picture data is stored in a decoding frame buffer. The decoding frame buffer outputs a bufferfull notification when a certain quantity of picture data is stored. The decoding start command generating section outputs the decoding start command to the picture decoding section when a decoding completion command is outputted from the picture decoding section and the bufferfull notification is not outputted from the decoding frame buffer.

Abstract: A picture decoding section starts to decode a bit-stream for one picture when a decoding start command is supplied from a decoding start command generating section, and outputs a decoding completion command when the decoding is completed. Decoded picture data is stored in a decoding frame buffer. The decoding frame buffer outputs a bufferfull notification when a certain quantity of picture data is stored. The decoding start command generating section outputs the decoding start command to the picture decoding section when a decoding completion command is outputted from the picture decoding section and the bufferfull notification is not outputted from the decoding frame buffer.

Abstract: A moving picture decoding apparatus includes an input part which adds at least one picture tag to a bit stream, having a plurality of pictures, which has been subjected to intraframe or interframe encoding, the picture tag or tags having a value monotonously changing on a picture-by-picture basis, independent of picture content, a buffer memory storing the bit stream and a controller controlling one or more of the plurality of pictures stored in the buffer memory by referring to the corresponding picture tag or tags.

Abstract: A moving picture decoding apparatus includes an input part which provides a picture tag to a bit stream which has been subjected to intraframe or interface encoding, the picture tag having a value monotonously changing on a picture base. A buffer memory stores the bit stream. A controller controls a number of pictures stored in the buffer memory by referring to the picture tag.

Abstract: A display parameter synchronous holding circuit 20 comprises a register group 21 for receiving display parameters DP separated by variable length decoding circuit, a selector 24 for selecting and outputting either the display parameters DP or the output of the register group 21, register group 22 for receiving the output of the selector 24, a register group 23 for storing the output of the register group 22 in response to VSYNC, and a control circuit 25 for causing the selector 24 to select the output of the register group 21 and making latch signals SH2 and SH1 to register groups 22 and 21 active in the order when the picture coding type PCT indicates I-picture or P-picture, and for causing the selector 24 to select DP and making SH2 active when PCT indicates B-picture.

Abstract: A display parameter synchronous holding circuit 20 comprises a register group 21 for receiving display parameters DP separated by variable length decoding circuit, a selector 24 for selecting and outputting either the display parameters DP or the output of the register group 21, register group 22 for receiving the output of the selector 24, a register group 23 for storing the output of the register group 22 in response to VSYNC, and a control circuit 25 for causing the selector 24 to select the output of the register group 21 and making latch signals SH2 and SH1 to register groups 22 and 21 active in the order when the picture coding type PCT indicates I-picture or P-picture, and for causing the selector 24 to select DP and making SH2 active when PCT indicates B-picture.

Abstract: In storing decoded image data of a picture into a memory 23, PTS1 and a valid/invalid flag F1 corresponding to the picture are stored at the top boundary address ADR1 of a storage area within the memory 23, ADR1 is temporarily held in a register circuit 211. whether a read address ADR coincides with any one of addresses ADR1 to ADR3 within the register circuit 211 is detected while sequentially reading data from the memory 23 to display a picture. When coincidence is detected, the data read from the memory 23 are retrieved as PTS and F, and control corresponding to a time difference between STC and retrieved PTS is executed if F indicates validity. When coincidence is not detected, the data read from the memory 23 are used as display decoded image data DAT4.

Abstract: An encoding unit encodes and compresses picture data in a bit map format corresponding to the MPEG method. A packet assembling portion assembles the picture data encoded by the encoding unit as packets in the format corresponding to the MPEG method, and stores the packets to a storing medium. At this point, the packet assembling portion writes an I picture index to a packet that contains at least a part of I picture data. When a special reproducing operation is performed, a data storing unit reads only packets that have the I picture index. A decoding unit decodes only I picture data of picture data contained in packets read from the storing medium and displays the decoded picture data.