Method and apparatus for the compression of audio, video or other data

Claim 1

A method of compressing a sequential stream of digital input values obtained from input data into binary, digital channel codes in a plurality of fields using a digital processor, each binary, digital channel code with an associated field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel codes comprising providing that, in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, the field width to be used for each channel code implicitly depends exclusively on both the preceding input value and the field width of the channel code for the preceding input value.

Claim 2

A method of compressing a sequential stream of digital input values obtained from input data into binary, digital channel codes in a plurality of fields using a digital processor, each binary, digital channel code with an associated field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel codes comprising providing that, in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, the field width to be used for each channel code implicitly depends exclusively on both the preceding input value and the field width of the channel code for the preceding input value.

Claim 7

A method of compressing digital data, which has been converted into a sequence of input values, into a series of channel codes, each binary, digital channel code having an associated field width, comprising: (a) for each particular input value, in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, utilizing a digital processor to set a field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel code and to assign a channel code, based implicitly and exclusively on (i) a current field width which is equal to the field width of the channel code immediately preceding said each particular input value; and (ii) the preceding input value; (b) if a particular input value: (i) fits within the field width implicitly set in step (a), utilizing the digital processor to output the channel code in the field width; (ii) does not fit within the field width implicitly set in step (a), utilizing the digital processor to output an escape code and increase the field width by a first predetermined incremental value, and to repeat the output of the escape code and increase the field width until reaching a new larger final field width which is large enough to contain the channel code of the particular input value, and then outputting the channel code in the larger final field width; and (c) repeating steps (a)-(b) for each subsequent data value; and (d) transferring the series of channel codes to a storage medium or through a communications channel to a decoder.

Claim 8

A method of compressing digital data, which has been converted into a sequence of input values, into a series of channel codes, each binary, digital channel code having an associated field width, comprising: (a) for each particular input value, in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, utilizing a digital processor to set a field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel code and to assign a channel code, based implicitly and exclusively on (i) a current field width which is equal to the field width of the channel code immediately preceding said each particular input value; and (ii) the preceding input value; (b) if a particular input value: (i) fits within the field width implicitly set in step (a), utilizing the digital processor to output the channel code in the field width; (ii) does not fit within the field width implicitly set in step (a), utilizing the digital processor to output an escape code and increase the field width by a first predetermined incremental value, and to repeat the output of the escape code and increase the field width until reaching a new larger final field width which is large enough to contain the channel code of the particular input value, and then outputting the channel code in the larger final field width; and (c) repeating steps (a)-(b) for each subsequent data value; and (d) transferring the series of channel codes to a storage medium or through a communications channel to a decoder.

Claim 18

An apparatus for encoding a sequential stream of digital input values, into binary, digital channel codes in a plurality of fields using a digital processor, comprising: (a) a receiver for receiving digital input data; (b) means for converting input data to input values; (c) means for assigning a field width to the channel codes when encoding input values into channel codes, including means for providing that in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, the field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel code to be used for each channel code implicitly and exclusively depends both on the preceding input value and the field width of the channel code for the preceding input value; and (d) means for transferring the channel codes to a storage medium or to a decoder.

Claim 19

An apparatus for encoding a sequential stream of digital input values, into binary, digital channel codes in a plurality of fields using a digital processor, comprising: (a) a receiver for receiving digital input data; (b) means for converting input data to input values; (c) means for assigning a field width to the channel codes when encoding input values into channel codes, including means for providing that in the absence of any explicit additional channel codes or rules which specify the field width to be used for the next channel code, the field width comprising a number of binary digits in the channel code to be used for each channel code implicitly and exclusively depends both on the preceding input value and the field width of the channel code for the preceding input value; and (d) means for transferring the channel codes to a storage medium or to a decoder.