Bit Stream Compression Using Prefix-Suffix Run-Length Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing scale of integrated circuit design has led to exponential growth in test data, causing storage space and bandwidth limitations in traditional automatic test equipment, necessitating effective data compression methods to reduce data transfer time and storage requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for encoding and compressing bit streams by identifying consecutive identical bits and encoding them using a prefix-suffix code, where the prefix represents the bit value and the suffix represents the number of consecutive bits, to improve data compression ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If test data is stored in traditional external ATE, then data integrity can be ensured, but storage space becomes insufficient and bandwidth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of data representation by encoding consecutive identical bits into compact codes (e.g., converting multiple identical bits into a prefix-suffix format), thereby reducing storage requirements while preserving data integrity for IC functionality testing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If test data is stored in traditional external ATE, then data can be fully stored, but data transfer time becomes too long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddata transfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the data structure through encoding consecutive identical bits into compact representations, which directly reduces data transfer time while maintaining complete test data for IC functionality verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional encoding methods are used, then encoding simplicity is maintained, but compression ratio is insufficient for high-similarity test data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveencoding complexityVSAvoidcompression ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bit stream into units and identifies consecutive identical bits within each unit, then applies prefix-suffix encoding to segments with high similarity, achieving improved compression ratios while maintaining manageable encoding complexity through systematic segmentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different encoding strategies to different segments of the bit stream based on local characteristics - using prefix-suffix encoding for segments with consecutive identical bits and conventional encoding for other segments, thereby optimizing compression ratio adaptively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10862508B1Method and device for encoding and compressing bit stream
Publication Date: 2020.12.08 VIA ALLIANCE SEMICON CO LTD
  • US10862508B1 patent drawing
  • US10862508B1 patent drawing
  • US10862508B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for encoding and compressing a bit stream is provided. The method includes: receiving a bit stream; determining whether a first number of bits that are consecutive and identical in the bit stream is greater than or equal to a first preset value; and when the first number is greater than or equal to the first preset value, the first number of bits are encoded as a first code in a first encoding way, wherein the first code is composed of a first prefix and a first suffix, and the first prefix represents what the consecutive bits are and the first suffix represents the first number.