Video Decoder System Design

Video decoding is the key technology for a wide variety of multimedia applications. A methodology for video decoding system is investigated after an analysis of the target algorithms and applications. Three steps of top-down video decoding system design - analysis and description, canvass design, realization are thoroughly discussed. System analysis is the basis of design, which involves system function description, environment entxy evaluation and design constrains. Algorithm analysis is an essential step for satis1~ring with the real time requirement and getting an exhaustive exploitation of parallelism. They are developed in this thesis and the communication and synchronization strategy - distributed control and mail-box synchronization is also adopted according to video decoding features. Modulization can decrease system complexity and all modules can be divided into two classes: data processing modules and interface modules.The general module design and implementation principle is proposed. Other system design approaches are also reviewed in this thesis. According to the characteristics and future trends of video decoding algorithms, architectural strategy is presented. The case study focuses on a MPEG-2 video decoder designed for HDTV and SDTV. Fuithermore, the results of VLD, IZZ and IDCT based on dedicated architecture and programmable architecture are given. Corresponding to three design steps, a down-top test flow is adopted, which consists of unit test, integrated test and validation test. In particular, Muti-Level Mixed Simulation platform is proposed to speed up the simulation and verification task.