Integer-Only Binary Tree Codebooks for Low-Power Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current codebook generation systems are computationally intensive and inefficient, wasting significant resources due to the generation of multiple codebooks, and struggle with the trade-off between codebook size and coverage, particularly in resource-constrained environments lacking floating-point capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for generating full binary tree codebooks using only integer operations, transforming the modified Shannon-Fano algorithm to eliminate floating-point operations, ensuring every bit pattern of a given length is a valid codeword, and requiring only four integer registers beyond occurrence counters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple codebooks are generated for different sourceblock lengths to ensure comprehensive coverage, then codebook coverage is improved, but computational complexity and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecodebook coverageVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates floating-point operations from the codebook generation process, retaining only the essential integer operations needed for arithmetic coding. This removes the computationally intensive portion while preserving the core functionality of generating comprehensive codebooks for multiple sourceblock lengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter type from floating-point to integer for all calculations in the codebook generation process. By using integer arithmetic instead of floating-point arithmetic, the system achieves the same codebook coverage with significantly reduced computational complexity, making it suitable for resource-constrained devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive codebooks encoding all possible sourceblocks are created to maximize coverage, then codebook coverage is improved, but codebook size becomes prohibitively large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecodebook coverageVSAvoidcodebook size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial codebook generation by creating codebooks only for frequently occurring sourceblocks rather than all possible sourceblocks. The integer-based arithmetic coding process identifies and encodes only the most relevant sourceblocks, achieving sufficient coverage for practical applications while keeping codebook size manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If traditional floating-point arithmetic operations are used for codebook generation to achieve optimal compression, then compression performance is improved, but power consumption and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the mechanical floating-point arithmetic system with an integer arithmetic system. This replacement eliminates the need for floating-point units and associated high-power operations, while maintaining sufficient precision for arithmetic coding through integer-based probability calculations and range updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses simple integer operations that are computationally inexpensive and can be performed quickly without complex hardware support. These lightweight operations consume minimal power and can be executed on simple microcontrollers, making the system suitable for battery-powered and resource-constrained applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20250291487A1System and Method for Generating Full Binary Tree Codebooks Using Only Integer Operations for Resource-Constrained Environments

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 ATOMBEAM TECH INC

AI summary

A system and methods for generating full binary tree codebooks for encoding data within one bit of the optimal expected word length using only integer operations. The system transforms the modified Shannon-Fano algorithm into an implementation requiring only additions, subtractions, multiplications, and bit shifts, eliminating floating-point operations entirely. By tracking occurrence counts directly, replacing logarithmic calculations with most significant bit position detection, and using bit shifts instead of division, the method enables codebook generation on ultra-low-power microcontrollers lacking floating-point units. The approach requires only four integer registers beyond the occurrence counters, maintains a full binary tree structure ensuring every bit pattern of a given length is a valid codeword, and achieves compression performance within one bit of optimal. This implementation extends advanced compression capabilities to billions of resource-constrained devices including IoT sensors, wearables, and embedded systems where power consumption and computational capacity are severely limited.