Genome Sequence Compression Through Mapping-Aware Read Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing genome sequencing data compression methods suffer from low compression ratios, slow processing speeds, information loss, and disruption of read order, which complicates downstream analysis and conformity checks.

Innovation Solution

A reference-based compression method that encodes genome sequence data by distinguishing perfectly and imperfectly mapped reads, using distinct encoding processes for each, and preserving the initial read order to ensure lossless compression and efficient decompression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If reference-based compression methods are used, then compression ratio is improved, but processing speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression ratioVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the compression process into three distinct encoding paths based on mapping quality: perfectly mapped reads (first encoding process), imperfectly mapped reads with few mismatches (third encoding process), and imperfectly mapped reads with many mismatches (second encoding process). This segmentation allows each segment to use an optimized encoding strategy, balancing compression ratio and processing speed for different read types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different encoding processes (local quality) to different subsets of reads based on their mapping characteristics. Perfectly mapped reads receive the most aggressive compression, while imperfectly mapped reads receive progressively less aggressive compression based on their mismatch count, optimizing the overall compression-performance tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If sequence alignment and classification methods are used, then compression ratio is improved, but information loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression ratioVSAvoidinitial sequence ordering
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification of reads into three categories (perfectly mapped, imperfectly mapped with few mismatches, imperfectly mapped with many mismatches) before encoding, but preserves the original read order metadata. This preliminary action enables optimized compression while maintaining the ability to reconstruct the original sequence ordering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a compressed representation (copy) of the read data that encodes mapping quality information and sequence data in an optimized format, while maintaining the ability to reconstruct the original data exactly, thus preserving information while reducing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If reads are reordered according to classes, then compression performance is improved, but downstream analysis reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression performanceVSAvoidreproducibility of analysis results
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the read ordering information as separate metadata from the compressed sequence data itself. This allows the compression process to optimize encoding based on mapping quality classes while preserving the original read order information independently, ensuring downstream analysis reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If general purpose text compression is used, then ease of operation is improved, but compression ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression simplicityVSAvoidcompression ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the encoding parameters based on the mapping quality of each read. Instead of using a single fixed compression scheme, the system dynamically selects from three different encoding processes based on mismatch count, optimizing compression ratio for each read type while maintaining operational simplicity through automated classification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4029022B1Method for the compression of genome sequence data
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 ILLUMINA INC
  • EP4029022B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4029022B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4029022B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The invention relates to a reference-based method for the compression of genome sequence data produced by a sequencing machine. The sequences of nucleotides or bases, that have been previously aligned to a reference sequence, are determined to be perfectly mapped, imperfectly mapped or unmapped with the reference sequence; and then coded according to said determination. The determining step comprises comparing, for each imperfectly mapped sequence, the number of mismatches between said sequence and the reference sequence with a reference threshold value, and encoding the imperfectly mapped sequences according to distinct encoding processes, depending on the result of said comparison method for the compression of genome sequence data produced by a sequencing machine.