Handling trailing bits in arithmetic encoding and decoding

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided to encode data into a bitstream and to decode data from a bitstream. According to the method, the length of the bitstream can be reduced by including only the relevant significant bits within the trailing bits of the encoding process. The amount of these leading trailing bits is determined and the trailing bits, which have the least amount, can be constructed. Indications of the amount of leading trailing bits are included into the bitstream. Therefore, padding is not required, resulting in less bits, which need to be signaled.