Abstract: A video encoding method is provided, which includes: deciding a first search window of a first macroblock in a reference image, and deciding a second search window of a second macroblock in the reference image, wherein the first search window is at least partially overlapped with the second search window; reading the first search window and the second search window from a memory and executing a first encoding stage having motion estimation and binarization encoding; storing an encoding result of the first encoding stage in the memory; reading the encoding result from the memory and executing a second encoding stage. The second encoding stage has a context entropy coding, and an encoding order of the context entropy coding is different from that of the motion estimation, and the first encoding stage is executed in parallel with the second encoding stage. Accordingly, a bandwidth demand of the memory is decreased.

Abstract: A video encoding method is provided, which includes: deciding a first search window of a first macroblock in a reference image, and deciding a second search window of a second macroblock in the reference image, wherein the first search window is at least partially overlapped with the second search window; reading the first search window and the second search window from a memory and executing a first encoding stage having motion estimation and binarization encoding; storing an encoding result of the first encoding stage in the memory; reading the encoding result from the memory and executing a second encoding stage. The second encoding stage has a context entropy coding, and an encoding order of the context entropy coding is different from that of the motion estimation, and the first encoding stage is executed in parallel with the second encoding stage. Accordingly, a bandwidth demand of the memory is decreased.

Abstract: An adaptive canonical Huffman decoder including a symbol index generator, a content selector, and a symbol table buffer circuit is illustrated. The content selector outputs a content selection signal. The symbol table buffer circuit reads a corresponding symbol table from a plurality of symbol tables stored in an external memory according to the content selection signal and stores the corresponding symbol table. The symbol index generator stores decoding information of a plurality of encoding tables and selects a corresponding decoding information among all the decoding information according to the content selection signal. Then, the symbol index generator receives a bit stream and decodes the bit stream according to the corresponding decoding information to obtain a symbol index. After that, the symbol table buffer circuit obtains an output symbol from the corresponding symbol table according to the symbol index.

Abstract: A reference picture information communication interface implemented in a hardware/software integrated H.264 encoder/decoder is provided. The reference picture information communication interface includes a reference state register (RSR) and a reconstruct address register (RAR). The RSR has N bits, wherein N represents the maximum number of reference pictures supported by the H.264 encoder/decoder. The RSR is used by the hardware for notifying a software decoded picture buffer (DPB) controller about a current reference picture existence information. The RAR is used by the software for notifying the H.264 encoder/decoder about an address of a reconstruction information of a currently decoded picture in a memory space.

Abstract: A picture decoder having a stream buffer, an H.264/AVC decoder, and a processor is provided. The stream buffer stores stream data. The H.264/AVC decoder decodes the stream data and performs an operation on a slice layer specified in the H.264/AVC standard to reorder reference pictures recorded in a reference picture list according to the stream data and generate a plurality of decoded pictures. The processor executes a program to perform an operation on a sequence layer specified in the H.264/AVC standard and mark the decoded pictures.

Abstract: A reference picture information communication interface implemented in a hardware/software integrated H.264 encoder/decoder is provided. The reference picture information communication interface includes a reference state register (RSR) and a reconstruct address register (RAR). The RSR has N bits, wherein N represents the maximum number of reference pictures supported by the H.264 encoder/decoder. The RSR is used by the hardware for notifying a software decoded picture buffer (DPB) controller about a current reference picture existence information. The RAR is used by the software for notifying the H.264 encoder/decoder about an address of a reconstruction information of a currently decoded picture in a memory space.

Abstract: An adaptive canonical Huffman decoder including a symbol index generator, a content selector, and a symbol table buffer circuit is illustrated. The content selector outputs a content selection signal. The symbol table buffer circuit reads a corresponding symbol table from a plurality of symbol tables stored in an external memory according to the content selection signal and stores the corresponding symbol table. The symbol index generator stores decoding information of a plurality of encoding tables and selects a corresponding decoding information among all the decoding information according to the content selection signal. Then, the symbol index generator receives a bit stream and decodes the bit stream according to the corresponding decoding information to obtain a symbol index. After that, the symbol table buffer circuit obtains an output symbol from the corresponding symbol table according to the symbol index.