RVC-CAL dataflow implementations of MPEG AVC/H.264 CABAC decoding

This paper describes the implementation of the MPEG AVC CABAC entropy decoder using the RVC-CAL dataflow programming language. CABAC is the Context based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding entropy decoder that is used by the MPEG AVC/H.264 main and high profile video standard. CABAC algorithm provides increased compression efficiency, however presents a higher complexity compared to other entropy coding algorithms. This implementation of the CABAC entropy decoder using RVC-CAL proofs that complex algorithms can be implemented using a high level design language. This paper analyzes in detail two possible methods of implementing the CABAC entropy decoder in the dataflow paradigm.