Binary Difference Encoding for Low-Bandwidth Data Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Frequent monitoring of system parameters generates large amounts of data, leading to high memory and bandwidth requirements, which incur significant costs and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A binary data encoding system that compares adjacent data words to determine differences, selects the minimum subword size capable of representing these differences, and generates a size tag and corresponding subword for encoding, thereby reducing data size and bandwidth needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If frequent monitoring of system parameters is performed, then measurement precision and data accuracy are improved, but memory requirements and bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem parameter monitoring accuracyVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information from the monitored data by comparing adjacent data words and encoding only the difference values. Instead of transmitting or storing complete data words, the system extracts and encodes only the changes between consecutive measurements, significantly reducing data volume while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by encoding data in terms of difference values rather than absolute values. By selecting subword sizes that match the actual range of difference values and using variable-length encoding, the system optimizes the data representation to reduce memory and bandwidth requirements while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If large amounts of data are stored or transmitted, then data completeness is improved, but power consumption and operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata volumeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the necessary information by encoding difference values between adjacent data words. This extraction approach reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed, stored, and transmitted, thereby reducing power consumption associated with memory operations and communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic encoding by selecting subword sizes based on the actual magnitude of difference values. The encoding scheme adapts to the data characteristics, using smaller subword sizes when difference values are small and larger subword sizes when needed, optimizing the balance between data completeness and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If data compression is applied to reduce memory and bandwidth requirements, then power consumption and costs are reduced, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata volumeVSAvoidencoding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data encoding process into distinct functional components: a comparator that calculates difference values, a selector that determines appropriate subword sizes, and an encoding engine that generates the compressed representation. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function efficiently, managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The encoding system manages complexity by changing parameters systematically - selecting from a predefined set of subword sizes based on difference value magnitude. This parameter-based approach provides a structured method for compression that balances complexity reduction with effective data volume reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3168994B1Data compression of a sequence of binary data
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 SIMMONDS PRECISION PRODUCTS INC
  • EP3168994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3168994B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3168994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatus and associated methods relate to compressing a sequence of binary data by encoding difference values between adjacent data in the sequence. For each datum in the sequence, the difference value may be determined by comparing the datum with an immediately preceding datum. For data, the determined difference may be expressible using few bits. The determined difference is encoded in subwords having subword lengths selected from a set of predetermined subword lengths. The selected subword lengths may be a minimum one of the set of predetermined subword sizes that is capable of representing the difference between the adjacent data. A size tag is generated for each subword encoded. The size tag identifies the size of the subword selected and used for encoding the determined difference. The difference may be encoded as a mathematical difference or as a bit pattern difference.