Runlength coding method and apparatus for use in a video signal encoding system

摘要

A runlength coding method converts an input data stream including a multiplicity of zeros and non-zero values to a runlength coded signal. A first sequence and a second sequence are generated based on the input data stream, and then first and second count control information and also add control information are produced based on the data in the first and the second sequences. In response to the first count control information, the number of zeros in the first sequence is calculated to thereby provide a first counted value and the number of zeros in the second sequence is computed responsive to the second count control information so as to supply a second counted value. The determined counted values are summed and provided as a runlength in response to the add control information, wherein the runlength represents the number of zeros in a run of continuous zeros preceding a non-zero value in the input data stream.