US Patent 7148822 Decoder and decoding method

A decoder configured to receive a variable length code stream packed in a fixed length area, and to execute variable length decoding and depacking of the variable length code stream, includes a first bit position table configured to store bit position data of the variable length code stream at a point where the variable length decoding is suspended. A bit length calculator is configured to calculate a bit length of variable length code stream remaining in the fixed length area after suspending the variable length decoding in the depacking, based on the bit position data.