Abstract: A decoding apparatus for decoding digital video data, comprising: a data memory comprising registers, each register being capable of storing a data strings comprising a plurality of data sub-strings such that the data sub-strings are not individually addressable; an input for receiving compressed video information represented by a matrix of data values and loading each data value in order into a respective one of the sub-strings; and processing means for performing an inverse zigzag operation on the matrix of data values by executing a series of reordering operations on the data strings to reorder the data sub-strings comprised therein.

Abstract: A method for performing a reordering operation on a matrix of input data values, the method comprising: loading the data values into a computer store by forming a plurality of data strings, each data string comprising a plurality of data sub-strings and each data sub-string representing at least one of the data values, and storing each data string in a register of the computer store in which its sub-strings are not individually addressable; and performing a series of data reordering steps operating on one or more of said data strings to reorder said data values; the reordering operation being a scan-wise reordering operation.