Reduced Symbol Occurrence Encoding for Hardware Data Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data compression techniques, such as those using Asymmetric Numeral Systems (ANS), are not optimized for hardware-friendly implementations like Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), as they rely on general-purpose CPUs for compression and decompression operations.

Innovation Solution

A lossless compression method using entropy encoding that involves determining the occurrences of distinct symbols in a data block, generating reduced occurrences, and encoding the data using these reduced values as a probability distribution, which can be implemented efficiently in hardware-friendly formats by utilizing a compressor with an input interface, calculator, and encoder engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If existing ANS implementations are used, then compression ratio is improved, but hardware implementation complexity increases and processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the probability distribution parameters by using reduced occurrence counts instead of actual occurrence counts. This parameter change simplifies the arithmetic operations in hardware while maintaining effective compression. The encoder uses a simplified probability model that requires fewer computational steps, directly improving processing speed without significantly compromising compression ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simplified data structures and temporary variables that are discarded after use, rather than maintaining complex state information. The occurrence count table uses minimal memory resources and is regenerated for each data block, enabling fast processing with reduced hardware resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Loss of substance

If existing ANS implementations are used, then compression ratio is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sizeVSAvoidhardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the compression process into distinct modular stages: occurrence counting, probability distribution generation, and encoding. Each stage is implemented as a separate hardware module with clearly defined inputs and outputs. This segmentation allows for independent optimization and simplifies the overall hardware architecture by eliminating the need for complex integrated processing units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex arithmetic operations with simpler logic operations suitable for hardware implementation. Instead of using floating-point arithmetic or complex integer operations, the system uses bit manipulation and integer arithmetic that can be efficiently implemented in FPGA or ASIC logic circuits, significantly reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If general-purpose CPU is used, then adaptability is improved, but processing speed and hardware cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputing system compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal encoding algorithm that can be implemented across different hardware platforms including FPGA, ASIC, and embedded systems. The core logic operations and data structures are platform-agnostic, allowing the same design to be deployed on various hardware architectures with optimized processing speeds and reduced costs compared to general-purpose CPU implementations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11296720B2Data compression using reduced numbers of occurrences
Publication Date: 2022.04.05 INNOGRIT TECH CO LTD
  • US11296720B2 patent drawing
  • US11296720B2 patent drawing
  • US11296720B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for compressing data. A method may include receiving an input data block to be compressed, determining numbers of occurrences for distinct symbols in the input data block, generating reduced numbers of occurrences for the distinct symbols based on the numbers of occurrences for the distinct symbols and encoding the input data block using the reduced numbers of occurrences as probability distribution of the distinct symbols in the input data block.