A water ring decoding apparatus configured to process a data string into a restored data set, such as a video image frame, is disclosed. The restored data set is organized with at least one restored origin enveloped by a plurality of nested restored environs successively surrounding each other in the restored data set. The decoder is configured to write the data string into the restored data set by starting at the RC group corresponding to the restored origin (restored water ring (0)) and by sequentially progressing outwardly from the family of RC groups corresponding to the nearest nested restored environ (restored water ring (1)) towards the family of RC groups corresponding to a furthest nested restored environ (restored water ring (n)).