Methods of coding and decoding moving-picture signals, using self-resynchronizing variable-length codes

摘要

A coded moving-picture signal consists of segments, each having a start code, header information, and coded picture data. The picture data are coded according to a self-resynchronizing variable-length coding rule. During decoding, if an error is recognized, this coding rule is applied in order to resynchronize; the coded data from the resynchronization point up to the next start code are stored in a memory; then the memory contents are decoded. According to a first aspect of the invention, the header information is coded according to the same variable-length coding rule, except for group header information appearing immediately after the start code. According to a second aspect of the invention, the start code is followed by all the header information in the segment, then by all the coded picture data in the segment.