LFC File Format Compressing Data While Keeping Headers Readable

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Large radiation pattern files occupy significant disk space and slow down file transfers due to their bulky nature, and existing compression methods compress headers as well, making them unreadable.

Innovation Solution

The .LFC file format compresses radiation pattern data while maintaining the header in a human-readable format using a column-wise data table descriptive language, allowing for a non-compressed header and compressed data block.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If general-purpose file compression utility is used to compress radiation pattern data files, then file size is reduced, but the header becomes non-human-readable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefile sizeVSAvoidheader readability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the file into two distinct segments: a header section that remains in human-readable format and a data section that is compressed. This segmentation allows different parts of the file to be treated differently, with the header preserved for readability and the data compressed for size reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the header from the rest of the file content and handles it separately. By taking out the header portion and preserving it in its original readable format while compressing only the data portion, the solution maintains header accessibility while achieving overall file size reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If radiation pattern data files are stored in simple ASCII text format, then header readability is maintained, but file size becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheader readabilityVSAvoidfile size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality characteristics to different parts of the file: the header maintains high readability quality in human-readable format, while the data portion is optimized for compactness through compression. This local differentiation of quality attributes resolves the contradiction between readability and size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the format parameter of different file sections: the header remains in ASCII text format for readability, while the data section is transformed into a compressed binary format. This parameter change allows the file to achieve both readability where needed and compactness where possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If large radiation pattern files are stored without compression, then header readability is preserved, but disk space consumption increases and file transfer speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheader readabilityVSAvoidfile transfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the file into readable header and compressed data sections, the patent enables selective optimization: the header remains accessible for quick inspection while the compressed data portion reduces overall transfer time and storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9501491B1File format article of manufacture
Publication Date: 2016.11.22 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a list of floating counts (LFC) apparatus for providing storage of tables of numerical data using a column-wise data table descriptive language with a non-transitory electronic-processor-readable medium executing an LFC storage computer program. The embodiments include an LFC computer program that is operatively associated with an electronic processor. An LFC computer file and at least one LFC file header that is operatively associated with the electronic processor and the LFC computer program. The LFC computer program is configured to store information in the LFC computer file. Tabular data is operatively-associated with the LFC computer file. At least one LFC file header at least partially describes the tabular data and is non-compressed and human readable.