Method and system for the variable-length decoding, and a device for determining the position of code words.

摘要

The invention relates to a method for decoding codewords of variable length from a bit stream, in which minimum and maximum lengths are defined for the codewords. In the method, the bit stream to be decoded is processed in parts, each bit stream part is subjected to a search for codewords, and the found codewords are decoded. In the method, at least partly overlapping fields are extracted from the bit stream part under processing in such a way that the starting point of at least two fields is a possible starting point of a codeword in said bit stream part. In at least one field, the end of the codeword is searched for, and the data related to the codeword is determined on the basis of the end point of the codeword. Data relating to at least one codeword is used to find out the occurrence of the codeword intended to be decoded in a field, and the found codeword is decoded. The invention also relates to a decoder, a system and a device in which the method is applied, as well as to a storage means for storing a program applying the method.