According to the present invention, there is provided a arithmetic code decoding apparatus for generating a decoded symbol by decoding an input
bitstream generated by encoding information, and outputting a value of a
syntax element corresponding to the decoded symbol, comprising: a context index predictor which receives the
syntax element indicating a type of the information included in the
bitstream, predicts a context index required to decode the
bitstream, and outputs the predicted context index; a pipeline arithmetic code decoder which has a plurality of stages of pipelines, receives the predicted context index and the bitstream, executes a decoding process of the bitstream using the predicted context index, and generates and outputs a decoded symbol based on prediction; a context index generator which includes a storage unit that receives and holds previous decoded symbols output before a decoded symbol at the present timing of the decoded symbols output from said pipeline arithmetic code decoder, receives the previous decoded symbols, the
syntax element, and context information of the bitstream, and generates a correct context index required for decoding at the present timing; a binarization table searcher which receives the syntax element, externally acquires a predetermined binarization table corresponding to a type of the syntax element, receives the decoded symbol at the present timing output from said pipeline arithmetic code decoder, searches the binarization table using the decoded symbol for a value of the syntax element, and outputs the value of the syntax element; and a prediction
failure detector which receives the correct context index output from said context index generator and the predicted context index output from said context index predictor, compares the two context indices, and outputs a prediction failure
signal when the two context indices do not match, wherein when the prediction failure
signal is output, said pipeline arithmetic code decoder flashes the decoding process executed using the predicted context index, re-executes a decoding process using the correct context index, and outputs a correct decoded symbol.