In some embodiments, a video decoder (e.g., implemented using or by RSAC module 1006) may perform data decoding using rate sorted entropy coding or a related aspect thereof. For example, RSAC module 1006 may receive rate control information associated with a first bitstream; may determine, using the rate control information, a maximum amount of bits available for a next symbol in the first bitstream; may determine, using a symbol probability model shared by the video decoder and a corresponding video encoder and a deterministic algorithm, an amount of bits for a least probable value of the next symbol; and may determine that the next symbol is included in the first bitstream if the amount of bits for the least probable value of the next symbol is less than or equal to the maximum amount of bits available for the first bitstream and may determine that the next symbol is not included in the first bitstream if the amount of bits for the least probable value of the next symbol is greater than the maximum amount of bits available for the first bitstream.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 10 is for illustrative purposes and that various nodes, their locations, and/or their functions may be changed, altered, added, or removed. For example, some nodes and/or functions may be combined into a single entity or some functionality (e.g., in RSAC module 1006) may be separated into separate nodes or modules.